Newsletter - Spring 2012

Canada-EU Research News

Spring Edition, March 2012

Table of Contents

1. 2011 – A Big Year for Canadians in FP7!
2. Marie-Curie Calls Open: Opportunities for international research training
3. Canadians in FP7: Dr. Edna Einseidel
4. Upcoming ERA-Can Events:
   a)      Information Session: Queen’s University, April 12, 2012
   b)      Information Session: Carleton University, April 24, 2012
   c)      Information Session: University of Ottawa, April 24, 2012
   d)      Information Session: University of Manitoba, May 14, 2012
   e)      Dublin: European City of Science 2012: Euroscience Open Forum (July 2012)

1. 2011 – A Big Year for Canadians in FP7!

The Seventh Framework Programme (2007-13) has already seen a tremendous increase in Canadian participation compared with previous framework programmes. But 2011 saw still further increases. The number of Canadian participants increased by 53 bringing the total number of Canadians in FP7 projects to 225. They are currently working in 190 different pan-European research projects.

There have been 803 Canadian applicants in 734 FP7 proposals, giving projects with Canadian participation a success rate of 28 per cent – well above the overall success rate of 21-22 per cent in FP7. Furthermore, there are 48 Canadians receiving funding directly from the European Commission.

Looking at the new projects that began in 2011, we see areas of strength in the Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (which includes Food, Fisheries, Agriculture and Biotechnology research), Health, Information and Communication Technologies as well as Nanotechnology, Space and Transport.

2. Marie-Curie Calls Open: Opportunities for international research training

Calls for 2013 under the People Specific Programme of FP7 (Marie Curie Actions) are now open. These calls focus on mobility and training.

•  The International Incoming Fellowship (IIF) is an excellent opportunity for Canadian scholars to travel to Europe. The fellowship is well funded and open to postdoctoral researchers.
• The International Outgoing Fellowship allows Canadian research institutions to host fully funded postdoctoral European researchers for a period of 1-2 years.
• The Initial Training Networks and International Research Staff Exchange Scheme also provide opportunities to Canadian researchers for networking, training and mobility.

For more information on the Marie Curie calls, please click here. You can also call our Secretariat in Ottawa for assistance.

3. Canadians in FP7: Dr. Edna Einseidel

Xenotransplantation: An Ethical Question

Canada has emerged as a model country in the area of citizen consultation according to a new seven-country study focused on the ethics of xenotransplantation – the use of animals to grow human tissue for transplant.

The purpose of this FP7 research project was to determine best practices for citizen consultation in a knowledge intensive field. According to Dr. Edna Einsiedel, a researcher at the University of Calgary, European countries have emerged as policy leaders in the field of xenotransplantion. So researchers in six European countries decided to examine public consultations on xenotransplantation in seven different countries (including Canada) as case studies, to determine the effectiveness of different models of citizen input.

To read more...

4. Upcoming ERA-Can Events:
 

a)      Information Session: Queen’s University
April 12, 2012
Office of Research Services Conference Room
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Information Session followed by Open Forum
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Individual Meetings with Researchers interested in European Collaboration (book in advance with Research Services)
To register, please contact: Diane Davies:
diane.davies@queensu.ca

b)     Information Session: Carleton University
April 24, 2012
9:30 am – 11:30 am
608 Robertson Hall (Senate Room)
To register, please contact: Christine Peachey:
christine.peachey@carleton.ca

c)      Information Session: University of Ottawa
 April 24, 2012
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location to be determined.
To register, please contact: Carmen Bauer:
bri@uottawa.ca

d)     Information Session: University of Manitoba
May 14, 2012
Time and Location TBA
Please check the Upcoming Information Sessions page for further details
To register, please contact: Barbara Crutchley
crutchl@cc.umanitoba.ca

e)     Dublin, Ireland: European City of Science 2012: Euroscience Open Forum (July 2012)
Dublin has been chosen to host Europe’s largest science conference, Euroscience Open Forum, 11-15 July 2012. As the European City of Science 2012, Dublin will also host an innovative science festival throughout the year combining the best of Irish culture, arts and science. For more information, please visit: http://www.dublinscience2012.ie/