Chemistry in Europe 2020-2 includes many interesting articles, among other the Editorial by W. Koch, EuChemS Executive Board member on the Chemistry Europe, an interview with Dr Wolfgang Fritsche, one of the founders of FECS (Federation of European Chemical Societies), a predecessor organisation of EuChemS, a look into the European Parliamentary Committees (ITRE and ENVI Committees), a report from the 15^th EYCN Delegate Assembly and many more.

You are invited to read the full newsletter here.

On 4 May 2020, the European Commission announced in a press release the reprioritisation of the Horizon 2020 framework programme funding. To help reach the objectives of the Coronavirus Global Response, €1 billion will be invested to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It will fund global research on vaccines:

• €400 million for developing scientific solutions and health systems
• €400 million to finance Research and Developments investments
• €150 million for the European Innovation Council’s Accelerator

Learn more about it here.

If you are interested in funding opportunities in relation to Coronavirus, both at the European Union level and the national level, the European Research and Area and Corona Platform offers up-to-date information about Horizon 2020 calls and deadline extensions related to COVID-19 funded and ongoing projects.

On 24 – 26 April 2020, the European Commission organised an online pan-European Hackathon under the patronage of Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. In total, 21,000 participants from across Europe met virtually to find solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic and its related-challenges.

Six categories of COVID-19 related issues were addressed during this 62-hour contest: health and life, business continuity, remote working and education, social and political cohesion, digital finance and ‘other’ – an open category for other challenges.

The participants had the opportunity to meet online with civil societies, universities, businesses and others to tackle these challenges. Overall, 2160 proposals were submitted and 117 of them were announced as winners during the Award Ceremony, livestreamed on 30 April. Results are available here.

The European Chemical Society is pleased to have taken part in the #EUvsVirus Hackathon and wants to thank the European Young Chemists’ Network (EYCN) for their initiative, active participation and inputs during this event. The European Chemical Society registered as a civil society and a partner to assist the teams and answer their chemistry-related questions. We will remain available in the future for all the participants wishing to connect with us.

Learn more about the #EUvsVirus Hackathon here.

And now, what is next?

Although the #EUvsVirus Hackathon has officially ended, the financing and resource needs of the winning teams to develop and scale their ideas, are currently being collated. From 22 – 25 May 2020, a Machathon event will be organised to match the needs with the available resources. Furthermore, an EIC-COVID Platform will be launched at the end of May. The aim of this European platform will be to connect the winning teams of the #EUvsVirus Hackathon – as well as partners proposing innovative solutions – with those in need of these solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them are hospitals, public authorities, etc.

The European Chemical Society, together with the EYCN, will remain active for the next step and cover the Machathon on socials. Stay tuned and follow us not to miss out on any information!

The European Chemical Society congratulates the member of EuChemS Executive Board and Chair of Division of Chemistry and Environment, Professor Ioannis Katsoyiannis, for being appointed by the Greek Minister of Growth and Investments as President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Industrial Property Academy (H.I.P.A.).

We wish Ioannis best of success in his new duties.

You can read our full debrief here.