The University of French Guiana held on sept 10th – 14th 2021, online thematic workshops for doctoral students.
The aim was to help doctoral students to define their professional career and give them concrete tools on how to create their professional network. The program was based on giving these students more knowledge on the academic and economic sectors, help them be more autonomous and the implementation of practical exercises.
This session was hosted by the Association Bernard Gregory (ABG) online.
WP6 requires the submission of 4 deliverables, the first one has recently been submitted to the EU Commission. It is entitled “Support for the elaboration of the future RIS3 Strategies” and the OR in charge is Region Guadeloupe.
As for D6.2, ARDITI and UMA from Madeira have developed a dedicated survey about EU policy recommendations: the feedback of partners will contribute to this deliverable.
This essential document is the first draft of new means/methods to create base for long-term collaboration within ORs.
A draft D6.3 (Sustainability of long-term research activities in ORs) is also being updated. This deliverable will be vital for long term cooperation between ORs, ensuring that the local policies and strategies are aligned with the European R&I strategy.
WP6 actions are carried out by ORs with the final aim to help make a greater impact on R&I ecosystem both at local and national level.
Our Canarian partners ACIISI and ULPGC organized a scientific conference on June 17th, co-funded by FORWARD.
The event was organized in conjunction with another project (REBECA) and the topic was algae and blue bio-economy. This scientific event included high-level speakers from the EU Commission, and also our partner NEXA, who joined the workshop as a speaker.
To ensure the highest rate of participation, the event counted with simultaneous translation from Spanish to English, Portuguese and French.
Actions plans of The thematic working group presented to Forward Advisory board.
The actions plans of the Thematic Working Groups were presented to FORWARD Advisory Board, on Thursday, October 14th, 2021. They appreciated the good quality of the work done because it enabled to identify the specificities in each thematic, main actors and key elements for the group.
All details of this meeting are in the last newsletter of October 2021:
– Replay of the meeting
– Minutes
– Powerpoint presentations
– Final speech of the Advisory Board
https://forward-h2020.eu/newsletter-release-thematic-working-groups-activities-in-october-2021/
The leaders of the WP3, namely ITC and Synergîle, has launched monthly some newsletters to promote the TWG’s activities/work.
The first one was released in July 2021, which describes the results of a satisfaction survey disseminated among the various groups, and also some information on the calls opportunities launched by the EC.
The second one was published in august 2021, one of the main topic was to announce that the TWG’s action plan were finally available on the Forward web page. Also, some important upcoming dates for the research and innovation community were mentioned.
Please consult the newsletter of September 2021 to know more about the interesting past or upcoming events.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1imdvTkY4j4zjLhm_DVmZgrnYup-F-jgG/view
As a reminder, the 8 thematic groups of the WP3 are :
TWG1 : HEALTH, APPLIED MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPIES
TWG2 : SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL INNOVATION
TWG3 : EARTH, SPACE & UNIVERSE SCIENCES
TWG4 : INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
TWG5 : CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY TRANSITION
TWG6 : AGRICULTURE, APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES, BIOTECHNOLOGY, BIO-SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
TWG7 : BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION
TWG8 : MARINE SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES
As part of the dissemination actions, the WP8 Leader released some infographics focused on the activities of the WP3-TWG.
These 3 infographics explainers are a way to valorize the work done so far by these groups of experts in a very brief manner.
In addition, 8 infographics, 1 per thematic group highlighting main actions and strategy implemented by ORs to capitalize their common interests.
Also, the infographics describes the relevant tools defined to achieve the goals.
A special mention for the sub-coordinators were also made, in order for people to appreciate the quality of expertise and dedication they are showing since the implementation of the TWG.
Source: Infographics https://forward-h2020.eu/content/uploads/2021/07/infographics-all.pdf
The Forward project includes three conferences to promote and give visibility to the excellence in research and innovation of the ORs. The Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana organizes the second Forward conference from October 21st to 22nd, 2021 online. This second conference is organized in collaboration with the annual meeting of the CNRS/LABEX-CEBA (Laboratory of Excellence – Center for the Study of Amazonian Biodiversity). This event follows the first Island Biology conference held in Reunion in July 2019.
The Laboratory of Excellence-Center for the Study of Amazonian Biodiversity is an annual international scientific meeting. Since 2012, this consortium has brought together scientists to present new advances in biodiversity science and discuss the direction of future research.
All partners were invited to participate online. On October 22nd. A time slot was reserved within the LABEX-CEBA and allowed the Forward consortium to present the project and its stakes in order to exchange with international scientists.
Please find below the programme
http://www.labex-ceba.fr/assets/programme.pdf
The main themes of the LABEX-CEBA conference were:
– Forests as socio-ecosystems
– CEBA: Interface between science & society
– Forests, trees, & ecosystemic services
– Health and evolution
Head to the link of our website for more information: https://forward-h2020.eu/forward-2nd-conference/
On September 23rd and 24th, all 24 members of the Forward’s Consortium were gathered to discuss the progress of the project.
This meeting was introduced by GOBCAN ACIISI ‘s Director and the project coordinator.
There were also some opening words from the EC Project Officer. M. Joao Albuquerque, who invited us to a more fruitful participation by suggesting to answer widening calls in Horizon Europe program because ORs are fully eligible. He also stressed that ERA chairs are also an opportunity for our territories.
After this opening session, each Work Package leader presented an update report on general achievements, challenges and deviations, pending tasks and next steps of the final year/phase of FORWARD.
Within the work package 2 “Research and Innovation diagnostic of ORs ecosystem led by Nexa at La Reunion, the main challenge is to elaborate one OR support model by identifying activities to be mutualized.
This integrated approach enables to reinforce ORs’ networks and the implication of political actors at local and national levels. We need to rely on an expert team. Based on Thematic Working Groups (TWG) management, the WP3 leader expressed the importance to create consortia by face to face meetings as virtual ones have their limitation. The same motivation of volunteer members must be maintained for the sustainability of the thematic groups. In the future, they could split into two sub-groups: networks and alignment on R&I strategy.
For Work package 4 and 5, the EC project officer congratulated the work done and encouraged collaboration through fellowships to create ORs ecosystems and develop contacts. The main challenges for these two work packages is the covid-19 with the mobility restrictions.
We have to adapt to local, virtual trainings or capacity actions regarding abroad fellowships. The action plan for mobilities within WP5 is expected by October 2021.
Within the Workpackage 6, a survey on recommendations for future EU research policies has been carried out by the WP6 leader. From this, ARDITI, WP6 leader could gather very interesting answers from 18 partners. ARDITI is working on this feedback at the moment.
In this third newsletter, we will take a closer look at the Forward program with the implementation of the Thematic working groups actions to improve the participation of the Outermost Regions in Horizon Europe calls for projects.
Forward has so far enabled some collaborative tools in each work package such as strategic documents (joint strategy for ORs, capacitation action plans, RIS3 methodology guide, online networking events (conferences, workshops).
The WP3 Thematic Working Groups, the heart of Forward are aligned with the pillar 2 of Horizon Europe program as well as the common Smart Specialization
Moreover, each TWGs is managed by a sub-coordinator, a Scientific expert based in a research organization in an OR. Each member communicates and shares their work, website, network in order to build future consortia.
Thematic Working Group facilitators provide support in terms of technical proposals, similar European projects granted, budget advices.
In other work packages such as WP4, Forward partners in their Region implemented referred capacitation activities based on the activities foreseen in a work document send by Work Package leader 4 (FRCT).
FRCT, planned some actions on short and medium term such as the organization of punctual meetings as well as one-to-one meetings when required, with the WP4 Regional coordinators.
The WPL 4 will work in coordination with the TWG coordinators in order to follow up the progress of the Forward project training actions.
Regarding the networking activities, WP5 and WP6 were impacted the most by the health crisis and travel restrictions.
Nevertherless, the situation is starting to be better for example, CDM sent a searcher in Short Term Mobilities (5 days in Berlin at the end of october).
● Forward partners adapted and organized online events.
● A General Assembly within Work Package 1, has been organized on march 10th for official validation of the project extension and review some changes needed in the Grant Agreement. A Steering Committee Meeting is being organized every month, to monitor the project’s implementation and results, take decisions on relevant aspects and tackle any potential challenges.
The Forward project is now extended until June 2022.
We are pleased to provide our readers with latest information regarding the Second FORWARD Scientific Conference Labex-Ceba.
The event will take place on:
- Thursday, October 21 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm Cayenne time (2:00 pm to 5:30 pm, Brussels time), and
- Friday, October 22 from 8:30 am to 12:40 pm Cayenne time (1:30 pm to 5:40 pm, Brussels time).
On Friday, October 22, FORWARD will have dedicated sessions to present its activities and key results.
Panelists :
Director Consulta Europa Projects and Innovation |
|
EU Project Manager Consulta Europa Projects and Innovation |
|
|
|