What were you doing before you joined Euresearch? I don't have the classic research background you might expect. I studied political science at the University of Pretoria and then went to work for President Nelson Mandela from 1994-1999. That was an incredibly exciting and interesting time and I learnt many life lessons. After his time in office, I wanted a change and moved to corporate investment and client relationship management at a South African bank. This was followed by a job at the Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt. Then love brought me to Bern, where I feel very much at home.
How do all these experiences help you in your current position? As a Euresearch Company Advisor, my own professional experience in the private sector helps enormously! Also, South Africa has 11 official languages, which has equipped me to understand cultural nuances. You might be surprised but this plays an important role in research. I want my clients to succeed and there is nothing more satisfying than when the companies I support and the people in them move forward.
When you fly home to South Africa, what do you look forward to the most? My family, of course, but I associate family with good food too. Älplermagronen and Käsefondue are great – don't get me wrong – but because of its cultural diversity, South Africa is known for its fusion food. A simple salad is never simple! My favourite is caramelised pear and walnut salad. Doesn't that sound amazing?
Facts & Figures:Euresearch has Company Advisors for all the regions in Switzerland. These people provide dedicated support for businesses of all sizes including industry.Euresearch services: Company Advisors help identify suitable funding opportunities in the EU Framework Programmes, explain eligibility and financial rules, and facilitate the search for project partners. They also provide assistance during proposal preparation and submission, as well as during the project.
Leonie Troxler, InterviewAlexandra Rosakis, Illustration
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) have published 2 new documents: The recently developed “Guidelines on Supervision” and the “Green Charter”. These will be important background documents for Horizon Europe MSCA proposals.
Enhanced data collection, increased knowledge sharing and a long-term approach to risk will be key in strengthening Europe's resilience against future disasters, according to a new book published by the Joint Research Centre (JRC).
The first Starting Grant call under Horizon Europe saw a 24% increase in applications compared to the 2020 call. One reason for the high number of proposals is certainly the longer than usual gap between the 2 calls because of the change in Framework Programmes. The budget allocated to this call will fund around 413 proposals, a success rate of just below 10%.
Tentative dates for all the calls under the ERC Work Programme 2022 are now available. The next Starting Grant call is expected to open already in September 2021 and close in January 2022.Deadline: 13.01.2022 (tbc)
The EITs Urban Mobility, RawMaterials, Digital, Climate KIC, Food, and Manufacturing have created a Cross-KIC action with 2 calls to strengthen the collaboration of internal and external activities related to the circular economy.Deadline (both calls): 31.05.2021
Applications are now open for the first New European Bauhaus prizes. The 10 prize categories – from “products and lifestyle” to “reinvented places to meet and share” – are all themed around the core pillars of the initiative: sustainability, quality of experience, and inclusion.Deadline: 31.05.2021
In the past year, the European Commission has invested €226 million through the European Innovation Council pilot and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology to support innovative start-ups, small- and medium-sized businesses, and projects to develop solutions in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing crisis. Many of these companies and projects have already generated promising results.
BioVersys is the first Swiss biotech company to receive a venture loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), reflecting the relevance and quality of the BioVersys product pipeline addressing antimicrobial resistance. The urgency for novel and more robust antibiotics against resistant bacteria has been further reinforced due to COVID-19. The EIB venture debt loan is financed under the InnovFin Infectious Diseases Finance Facility set up as part of Horizon 2020.
Are you preparing a Cluster Health proposal? Then join our national online applicant webinar to learn how to write a strong proposal with the new requirements and according to the new templates. You can also book a bilateral meeting to discuss specific questions about your application.Date: 10.06.2021 (online)
This webinar will focus on health-related funding opportunities in Horizon Europe, with particular emphasis on collaborative projects, including a testimonial from a participant in an EU project. You will also be able to book a bilateral meeting with a Euresearch advisor to discuss specific questions about your project idea.Date: 27.05.2021 (online)
This webinar will inform you about funding opportunities for doctoral training programmes, joint doctorates and industrial doctorates within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks funding scheme (previously ITN).Date: 18.05.2021 (online)
This event will discuss and highlight the potential of artificial intelligence in advanced manufacturing technologies. The target audience are experts from industry and academia as well as people with a general interest in this field.Date: 10.06.2021 (online)
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