EU Project Pill II: Horizon Europe Participation of Associated and Other Third Countries

Part of the EBN Training & Knowledge offer 2024

This EU Project Pill will address the EU RDI international cooperation framework and the legal and financial implications of involving third countries in Horizon Europe proposals.  In particular we will make clarity about the different funding frameworks and agreements the EC establishes with third countries (associated countries, bilateral agreements and regional dialogues).

A unique aspect of Horizon Europe is the concept of Associated Countries, non-EU countries that are part of the European Research Area (ERA) and contribute to the programme’s budget, gaining the opportunity to participate under conditions similar to those of EU MS. Their participation plays a crucial role in the overall framework, given that scientific research and innovation are increasingly global endeavours, demanding collaboration beyond the conventional geographical and political barriers. 

In this module we will better understand the different international cooperation frameworks that regulate the relationship between the European Union and third countries. We will make clarity about the difference between associated countries and associated parties, and the related admin and financial implications. 

The session will then offer deeper analysis of some regional cooperation dialogues with a focus on research and innovation opportunities. 

Background information 

Over the past few years, EBN has significantly expanded its international activities through numerous EU-funded projects, and our community is growing beyond Europe, including Turkey, the Western Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. Post-Brexit, we have also engaged in discussions with our UK members regarding their participation in EU projects. Most of our members are involved in supporting their clients’ internationalization, and EU-funded projects are a valuable resource for exploring new markets and establishing partnerships. This session aims to address these dynamics by focusing on Associate and Other Third Countries’ participation in HE. 

Target audience

The primary audience for this session includes project managers and internationalisation managers within our EU|BICs (Business Innovation Centres, Incubators, Accelerators, Entrepreneurship Support Organizations), primarily based in the EU, but also beyond. The session aims to provide a clear overview of the different cooperation frameworks available under HE and their technical implications. It will also help our community understand how HE can support their own and their clients’ internationalization strategies. 

• EU|BIC project managers
• Client companies of EU|BICs
• Non-members

Agenda

Experts

Bernhard Fabianek, European Commission, DG Research & Innovation (DG RTD) 

Bernhard Fabianek joined the European Commission, Brussels, Belgium, in 1996. He worked in the areas of photonic technologies, high-speed networking, GÉANT, e-Infrastructures, and high-performance computing. 

Later he coordinated the developments in the area of Physical Sciences and Engineering. 

Since 2020 he is Senior Expert for the Western Balkans in the Horizon Europe Association unit. He coordinates the ‘Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport’ 

Dr Vincenzo Lorusso,  European Commission, DG Research & Innovation (DG RTD) 

Vincenzo Lorusso works as a Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG Research and Innovation (DG RTD), where he is in charge of Research and Innovation cooperation with the African Union, multilaterally, and, bilaterally, with Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa. He chairs, from the EU side, the “AU-EU Innovation Agenda Working Group of the High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology and Innovation”. He also acts as a sherpa of the Governing Board of the “Global Health European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership 3 (EDCTP3) Joint Undertaking”. 
 
Prior to joining the European Commission, Vincenzo worked for eight years in the pharmaceutical industry as Head of Research and Innovation for infectious parasitic diseases, while also co-supervising MSc and PhD projects focused on Public Health and Rural Development in Africa, through an Honorary Research Fellowship at the University of Salford, UK.  
 
Vincenzo’s educational background combines a blend of life sciences and social sciences, including a Master in International Development and African Studies (Sciences Po, Paris), which followed a PhD with in Public Health and Rural Development in Africa, and particularly in Nigeria (University of Edinburgh, UK), and a first degree as Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (University of Bari, Italy). He also holds a High-Level Executive Diploma in Diplomacy & Health (The Graduate Institute, Geneva).  

In his spare time, Vincenzo makes hip-hop / reggae / afrobeat music and slam poetry (with lyrics in several languages) and writes on his blog “Between Africa and Japan”.  
 

Sander van der Molen, EU|BIC Associate Civitta  

Sander van der Molen is an expert on the topic of innovation. Sander is working as a Partner Civitta, where he is responsible for helping innovators to attract grants from structural funds and European funding. He has applied and implemented as coordinator and project partner over 15 different FP7/Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe projects.  He was coordinator of the BOWI (Boosting Widening Digital Innovation Hubs) project, the EU-India Innovation Centre, Softlanding and Space Hubs Networks projects. He is additionally an expert in different projects on digitalisation, innovation and access to Horizon Europe in different Accession and non-EU countries . 

Claudia Pablos Lorenzo, Consultant to the European Commission (DG INTPA, Unit B2)

Claudia Pablos Lorenzo is currently providing services as a consultant to the digital team for Latin America and the Caribbean in the European Commission (DG INTPA, Unit B2). Her academic background is in Economics and International Relations and she specialised with a MA in EU law. She is currently responsible for the AI and Data Governance policy component of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, in addition to the management of the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator.  

Reesi Lepa, EU|BIC Associate Civitta 

Reesi is an expert in designing R&D and Innovation ecosystem programs, backed by 15 years of experience in research, technology, and innovation policy. She has managed innovation and startup ecosystem initiatives, as well as development cooperation projects. Reesi thrives when collaborating with international and diverse teams on RD&I projects, contributing to business development and strategic thinking. 

André Barbosa, Senior Innovation Consultant at EU|BIC Associate EurA Brussels & Portugal

André Barbosa is a senior innovation consultant of EurA Brussels & Portugal and project manager for different initiatives coordinated by EurA for EU institutions and programmes (EIC, CINEA, Horizon Europe, etc.). André Barbosa is also part of the Strategic Partnerships unit, responsible for the business development of the company. Prior to joining EurA, André Barbosa had been working as a senior expert consultant for more than 12 years, working as manager for projects funded by the European Commission (grants, tenders and Framework Contracts, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, etc.), the World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank in Africa and the Americas especially. In the context of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, André Barbosa has been particularly active in projects related to R&I international cooperation with third countries and regions. In this context, acted as Project Manager to INCOBRA, ENRICH in China and ENRICH in Brazil (then ENRICH in LAC). André Barbosa has a degree in Law from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and a master’s degree in international Affairs from the University of Minho in Portugal. 

Laura Maragna, Senior Innovation Consultant at EU|BIC Associate EurA Brussels & Portugal

Laura Maragna is senior innovation consultant of EurA Brussels & Portugal. Laura has a degree in International Relations, with post-graduation in Political Science and studied Environmental Science Management in Australia. After working for diplomatic missions, UN agency and environmental organizations, in 2014 Laura worked for the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) at the EU Delegation to Brazil, following several projects being developed in collaboration with Brazilian institutions. In 2016, Laura started working for the EU Directorate General for Research and Innovation (R&I) and was responsible for the R&I sector of the EU Delegation to Brazil from 2021 to 2022. In 2022 Laura moved to Portugal and joined EurA as project manager and part of the Strategic Partnerships unit, responsible for the business development. 

Training fees

• Free for EU|BICs and EU|BIC Associates and their client companies
• €120 (ex VAT) for non-members