Kick off meeting for the new European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon 2020”

In the frame of the incoming Greek Presidency of the European Council, as of January 1st until June 30th 2014, the General Secretariat or Research and Technology/GSRT is organizing the kick off meeting for the new European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon 2020”.
The event will take place on Friday, January 10th, 2014 at the ‘DEMOKRITOS” National Centre for Scientific Research.

His Excellency the President of the Greek Republic, Mr Karolos Papoulias will honour it with his attendance.The event will be also attended by the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Prof. Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos and Mrs Maire Geogeghan Quinn, the EU Commissioner for Research and Innovation and Mrs Maria Damanaki, the EU Commissioner for Marine Affairs and Fisheries. Representatives from the Academic sector (Universities, Research Centres) and the private sector will also attend the event.Representatives from the European Commission will present the synergies between the “Horizon 2020” and the Structural Funds and other issues/actions of utmost importance for Greece, such as the Information and Communication Technologies/ICT in the new Programme, the access to finance for SMEs and the role/importance of smart specialization in regional development and cohesion.
During the event and under the light of the triptych “Research+Innovation→Entrepreneurship for Greece”, GSRT has included a Press Conference in the Programme in order to be discussed, among other issues, issues related to Research, Innovation and Growth, the new Programme “Horizon 2020”, the cooperation between the Academia and the private sector of Greece, the new chances for the SMEs, the importance of the smart specialization and the role of the regions within the new Funding Scheme (of the Programme).
During the event the Exhibition “From Science to Technology” organized by the DEMOKRITOS Centre for Scientific Research will be inaugurated and open to public. The idea behind it is to highlight the innovative research undertaken in Greece and the need to support the synergies between the Academia (Universities and Research Centres) and the private sector of the country.

Click here for the agenda

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«Ορίζοντας 2020» | Εναρκτήρια Εκδήλωση νέου Ευρωπαϊκού Προγράμματος για την Έρευνα και την Καινοτομία

What is Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries

and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.

Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe’s global competitiveness.

Seen as a means to drive economic growth and create jobs, Horizon 2020 has the political backing of Europe’s leaders and the Members of the European Parliament. They agreed that research is an investment in our future and so put it at the heart of the EU’s blueprint for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and jobs.

By coupling research and innovation, Horizon 2020 is helping to achieve this with its emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. The goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.

Horizon 2020 is open to everyone, with a simple structure that reduces red tape and time so participants can focus on what is really important. This approach makes sure new projects get off the ground quickly – and achieve results faster.

The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation will be complemented by further measures to complete and further develop the European Research Area. These measures will aim at breaking down barriers to create a genuine single market for knowledge, research and innovation.