Deadline: 23-Sep-21
The European Commission is calling for proposals for the Horizon Europe Framework Programme to maximize the impact of EU research and innovation funding for European science, economy, and the wider society.
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the importance of R&I cooperation to deliver solutions to society’s most demanding needs. Delivering Europe’s recovery is a priority as are the green and digital twin transitions.
To match these challenges, a new level of ambition that links better R&I with the economy, as well as with education and training, is necessary to put the EU’s scientific knowledge to work.
Scope
- As having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in place is becoming an eligibility criterion for legal entities applying to Horizon Europe, and, as the new European Research Area Communication of 30 September 2020 is foreseeing stronger measures to promote inclusive gender equality plans, there is a strong need for expert policy and knowledge support for inclusive GEP implementation, in research and innovation (R&I) organisations (including research funding and performing organisations, incl. companies and SMEs) across EU Member States.
- In order to adapt to different national and local situations, and help foster effective transformation in countries and institutions less advanced in the field of gender equality in R&I, a first European centre of excellence on inclusive gender equality in R&I will be created.
- Building on projects and actions supported through Horizon 2020, including projects ACT, GE Academy, GENDERACTION, and the pilot European knowledge and support facility for fostering institutional change through gender equality plans funded under the SwafS work programme 2020, as well as on initiatives developed by existing national or regional centres of excellence and knowledge centres on gender equality in R&I in Europe, and by European R&I stakeholder umbrella organisations, proposals are expected to cover the following:
- Establish a sustainable European Centre of Excellence and think tank to advance and disseminate knowledge on inclusive gender equality policies in R&I, addressing three levels of inclusiveness, i.e.: the intersectional level, considering intersecting social categories such as ethnicity (including migration and refugees), disability, sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTIQ issues) or else social origin; the sectorial level, to better address innovation and the private sector; and geographical inclusiveness.
- This Centre could work as a single entity or as core centre and network of hubs in different Member States, and should involve experts from different Member States, including widening countries.
- Provide expertise and support to Member States, R&I organisations, and the European Commission, in the design, implementation and assessment of institutional change through inclusive gender equality plans, including through the design and delivery of tailored training activities on inclusive gender equality in R&I, and the development of an enhanced Community of Practice on gender equality and diversity in R&I organisations, including R&I performing and funding organisations.
- Provide expert support for the collection of pan-European data on gender equality in R&I and the development of new indicators, including on intersectionality.
- Collected data should cover also information on the uptake and implementation of gender equality plans in EU Member States and Associated countries.
Funding Information
Grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000 except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (low-value grant).
Expected Outcomes
Projects are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Advancement of knowledge, policy and practice on inclusive gender equality in research and innovation institutions across Europe, with an inter-sectional, geographically inclusive, and multi-sectorial approach.
- Reduced disparities across Member States and strengthening of the European Research Area and its gender equality and inclusiveness objective.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.
- A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
- To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
- eligible non-EU countries:
- countries associated to Horizon Europe
- low- and middle-income countries
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3dpKV7g