The Office of Research (OR) at LUMS hosted a seminar on 'Horizon 2020 - Work Programme for Research and Innovation 2018-2020' on October 3, 2018. Dr. Shafay Shamail, Director OR, welcomed the guest speaker, Ms. Ann Marchal, Deputy Head of the Mission at the European Union (EU) Delegation to Pakistan since 2006. She talked about new opportunities in the Horizon 2020 for researchers, scholars and students.
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 - 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs and discoveries by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. It is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness.
The Programme is open to everyone, with a simple structure that reduces red tape and time so participants can focus on what is really important. This approach makes sure new projects get off the ground quickly – and achieve results faster.
Ms. Marchal encouraged and invited students and faculty members from Pakistan to apply for the Programme and receive funding for their innovative research projects. She stressed upon the benefits of participating in Horizon 2020, which include mobility to Europe, access to new networks and alliances, new business opportunities, research funding and promotion, access to word-class research infrastructures and the opportunity to collaborate and interact with excellent European and International scientists.
Ms. Marchal disclosed the eligibility criteria for funding, the general rules and conditions that must be met in order to apply for the Programme and also talked about the opportunities for training and career development that the Programme has to offer through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, which is open to all career stages and nationalities.
In the end, Ms. Marchal encouraged Pakistani nationals and institutions to take part in Horizon 2020, as individual researchers or in collaborative projects, as it offers exciting opportunities to extend one’s research field, their network and their career options.
LUMS is registered as a legal entity on the EU portal. OSPR provides all the administrative support through the Legal Entity Appointed Representative (LEAR). OR may be contacted in case there are any questions related to the proposal submission process.
