In a notable gathering in Athens, Greece, key figures in science, technology, and innovation (STI) convened to chart the future course of climate change research within the EU-Eastern Partnership collaboration. This article delves into the achievements of this Thematic Workshop and envisages the next steps for STI cooperation.
A Collaborative Effort Against Climate Change
Spanning two productive days from the 6th to the 7th of November in 2014, the workshop exemplified collaborative efforts to tackle the pressing issue of climate change. Participants included a diverse group of twenty-one scientists and policy experts from all six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, as well as seven EU Member States.
Strategic Workshop Objectives
The event was strategically positioned following the 2nd meeting of the Eastern Partnership Panel on Research & Innovation. It aimed to align the EU and EaP countries on research initiatives that could significantly impact the joint societal challenges of climate change, energy, and health.
Focus Areas of Discussion
Deliberations honed in on two key domains:
- Fighting and Adapting to Climate Change: The pursuit of innovative strategies to battle and acclimate to the changing climate was a primary concern.
- Protecting the Environment: Ideas for the sustainable management of natural assets, spanning water resources to biodiversity and ecosystems, were extensively explored.
Results and Future Directions
The dialogues relied on robust data, such as the bibliometric analysis prepared by the IncoNet EaP project and prior conclusions from the 2012 IncoNet EECA Workshop. These data revealed that joint EU-EaP scientific publications had a strong inclination towards tackling climate change and environmental protection issues.
Research Priorities Highlighted
At the culmination of the discussions, five crucial topics emerged as mutual interests. These subjects are prophesied to drive forth future Horizon 2020 calls for proposals, bridging the gap between Eastern Partnership countries and the European Union through focused research undertakings.
Upcoming Submission to Decision Makers
The thematic insights gained will be submitted to the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and the upcoming Eastern Partnership Panel on R&I, ensuring that the recommendations resonate at the highest level of policy-making.
Download the Workshop Report
For a detailed account of the workshop proceedings and conclusions, interested parties are encouraged to download the comprehensive report available in PDF format.
Travel - Connecting Minds and Fortifying Research Cooperation
In the spirit of international collaboration and the free exchange of ideas, the role of travel in workshops such as IncoNet's cannot be overstated. Beyond mere transit, travel fosters the essential human connection and cultural exchange that fuels groundbreaking research and innovation. The journey to Athens — a cradle of ancient knowledge — symbolically and literally brought together diverse perspectives to forge a collective response to some of the most daunting global challenges.
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