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Discover Horizon 2020

Written by katrinlink on . Posted in

21 November 2013

The APPEC Horizon 2020 Workshop on November 4/5, 2013 has put the magnifying glass on the coming EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation

This time the big questions were not about fundamental research in astroparticle physics, but what to expect from the new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020). Very soon, with the adoption of the Horizon 2020 work programme on December 11, 2013 the first calls for proposal shall be published, the most recent draft documents can be found online. It is important to note that first deadlines will already be in April 2014.

More than 120 astroparticle physicists from 12 European countries followed the invitation to attend the APPEC workshop at DESY in Zeuthen. The aim of the workshop was to provide participants with firsthand information on funding opportunities for both, individual researchers as well as groups applying for collaborative projects.

Structure of Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 is structured in three pillars: excellent science, industrial leadership, and societal challenges. While it is not excluded that there may be opportunities also in the last two pillars, excellent science is the main target for basic research and thus was put in the focus of the workshop.

On the first day, EU experts from National Contact Points (NCPs) presented the various funding instruments based on the currently available information. Together with the general conditions to apply for the European Research Council (ERC) grants and Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) the experts gave practical advice on competitive proposal writing and changes in comparison to the 7th Framework Programme (FP7).

Giorgio Rossi, the vice chair of the Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE) strategy working group of ESFRI (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures), was invited to present the ESFRI strategy and the relation to Horizon 2020. He reported on the European Commission’s goal to have 60% of the projects on the current ESFRI roadmap implemented in 2015. Therefore, ESFRI initiated an assessment of all projects (including the two astroparticle RIs CTA and KM3NeT) concerning the management, governance, and financial aspects. The results are summarized in the high level expert group report “Assessing the projects on the ESFRI roadmap”.

A fourth presentation took a detailed look at the topic Future Emerging Technologies (FET), a programme with several funding instruments to support R&D projects closely linked to application. For instance, the thematically open calls within FET-Open shall allow submitting proposals for exploring novel ideas almost anytime.

On the second day, the workshop continued with parallel working groups (conveners in parenthesis) thematically focusing on:

  • Cosmic Rays (A. Haungs)
  • Gamma Rays (J. Knapp)
  • Gravitational Waves (M. Punturo)
  • Underground Physics (L. Baudis)
  • Underwater Research (P. Coyle)
  • Neutrinos (M. Mezzetto)
  • Computing (G. Lamanna)
  • Theory (A. Masiero)
  • Technology (S. Katsanevas)

The individual groups were asked to develop ideas and strategies for collaborative projects and coordinate proposals for the upcoming calls in 2014 and 2015. The results have been presented to the full audience; the presentations can be accessed at the APPEC workshop website. In the final discussion of the workshop it has been agreed that APPEC shall continue to collect and prepare all relevant Horizon 2020 information for the community. The working groups shall act as the information hubs into the entire astroparticle physics community, so if you want to be part of any of these groups please fill in this form and/or please get in touch with the convener(s) of your preferred topic(s).