Presentation given by Brian Donlon, Environmental Protection Agency, at the 2015 Horizon 2020 SC5 Information Day, 21/10/2015, Herbert Park Hotel, Dublin

1. Horizon 2020 – Societal Challenge 5
Can we improve our performance?
Dr. Brian Donlon,
EPA Research Manager
21st October 2015
Herbert Park, Dublin

2. Talk Content
1. FP7 (Irish Successes & changes in scope)
2. SC-5 Results to Date
3. EPA Support Role
4. Concluding Remarks

3. 1. Irish Successes in FP7
 Approx €18m under Theme 6.
 6 projects led by Irish Partners, Involved in 55 projects
 Key Areas Marine, Environmental Technologies, Natural Resources Mgt
 Also success in Climate and Env & Health
 Across FP7 – Approx €50m drawn down by Environmental Researchers
 Big successes in Agriculture, Marie Curie, SME, ERC, Energy and ICT

4. 1. Env. R&D: Cross-Thematic
Environment
SME
ERC
ENERGY
ICT
INFRA
Agriculture (KBBE)
Nano
Space
Marie Curie

5. 1. Changes in Scope from FP7
Marine Research  Societal Challenge 2
Env & Health  Societal Challenge 1?
New – Materials Science
(Irish researchers are 6th in World – not EPA research community)
60% of the Entire Expenditure is aimed at Sustainable development, 35% to go to climate
change related projects

6. 2. SC-5 Results (2014)
Catalogue of 2014
Projects available from
the EC
Low Participation from IE (37)
14% Success Rate (no. of
applicants)
4% Success Rate (budget
requested)
0.26% of the SC5 Budget

7. 2. SC-5 2015 Results
One Stage Proposals
 Total Budget going to IE (1-stage topics) = €
1,337,033.18 => 3 successful projects involving 4 IE
partners
 Total IE participation: 15 participants (including 2
coordinators) of which 4 participants are successful
Two Stage Proposals
 Stage 1: 806 submissions => 208 going to Stage 2
 c. 31 IE participants(x) of which 29 are coordinators => 15
going to Stage-2 (11 IE Coordinators)

8. 2. SC-5 Results to Date

9. 3. EPA Activities
 Members of SC5 Programme Committee
 Chair of Advisory Group
 Horizon2020 SC5 Working Group
 EPA active in Climate and Water JPIs (Huge interest in the Joint Calls)
 EPA members of task forces on Water & Raw Materials
 Annual Information Days
 Roadshows
 Joint Call with SFI Investigators Programme to catalyse participation in
H2020

10. 3. EPA Support Activities (ctd.)
 Catalogue of Irish Expertise in Environmental Research (>90,000 views)
 Dissemination (Newsletter, Website, Update emails)
 Close linkages with other societal challenges as well as ERC , Marie Curie,
Infrastructures & Humanities
 Mapping activities of research areas under Horizon2020 SC5 (done for Water,
four new studies released today aligned to WP 2016-2017)
 Queries, Review of proposals
 Partner Search requests
 One-to-one meetings

11. Mapping Research Excellence (EU Level)

12. 4. Concluding Remarks
 Materials Science (6th in world)
 ICT and Nanosciences (potential under x-cutting areas)
 Climate Change and Water – EPA aligned and JPI linkages
 SME successes in FP7 & Competitiveness Innovation Programme (CIP)
 Liaise with Enterprise Ireland & client base
Text from 2016-2017 Draft Work Programme:
“Within the projects funded, additional, complementary or follow-up funding should be sought,
be it private or public, including from relevant regional/national schemes under the European
Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), in particular under the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF). ”

13. 4. Concluding Remarks (ctd.)
 H2020 – challenging target set Nationally (€1.25bn)
 60% of H2020 aimed at Sus Dev, 35% to climate change
 EPA significant role to play (SC5 & other areas)
 Opportunities in Raw Materials, climate/water, SME eco-innovation
 Good alignment between EPA & H2020 initiatives (JPI, EIP)
 Potential deficit in researcher capacity in SC5 (SFI joint call may assist)
 Liaise with & support from others (Specialisation Strategy, Materials, Prioritise
National investments incl New Science Strategy)

14. How Can we Improve our Performance?
 EPA & EI provide support to researchers.
 Can we increase our participation rate ? Success rate?
 Feedback today – complete forms available at the EPA Stand.
 Alternative – complete SurveyMonkey.

15. Societal Challenge 5 Support Team