PrevCOUNCIL OF THE EU AGREES ITS POSITION FOR THE 2018 EU BUDGET AND BACKS INCREASE OF 2017 EU BUDGET17 July 2017NextPOLICY BRIEF PRESENTS WAYS OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN JOINT PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES18 July 2017

EURESEARCH WEBINAR HORIZON 2020 – SPREADING EXCELLENCE AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION

The next deadline of the “Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation” Programme is 15 November 2017. This webinar provides an overview on SEWP funding opportunities and in particular highlights the upcoming call WIDESPREAD-05-2017 which has the objective to strengthen a field of research (no thematic restrictions) between a widening country and any two internationally-leading research institutions in other MS or ACs.

During previous European Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation, disparities in participation were observed between different EU Member States and Associated Countries. Based on the outcome of a study by the European Commission (EC), which analysed the main reasons for this ‘science divide’, the new programme “Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation” (SEWP) was introduced for the first time with the launch of Horizon 2020 in 2014.

SEWP addresses the causes for low participation of these countries (dubbed “Widening countries”) by launching measures that aim to raise their research excellence. The main measures are:

Twinning – The aim of this institutional networking programme is to strengthen a particular research field at an institution in a Widening country. It links the institution with at least two leading counterparts in Europe, e.g. Switzerland. Activities like short-term staff exchanges, expert visits, training, workshops, conference attendance and outreach are supported. See open call.

Teaming – These institution-building projects create new or update existing centres of excellence in Widening countries by teaming up with a leading European scientific institution, e.g., in Switzerland. Applications undergo a 2-phase procedure. Currently there are no upcoming phase 1 calls.

ERA Chairs – Outstanding academics are brought to research institutions in Widening countries. Applications for an ERA Chair are only open to Widening countries. Thereafter, the open recruitment process for the ERA Chair holder is open to any nationality.

For more information, watch the Euresearch webinar on SEWP

It was originally aimed at Swiss stakeholders. The information is anyway relevant also for other countries.