Horizon Europe “Widening participation and spreading excellence” (WIDERA) Work Programme 2023 / 2024

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Information and Consortia Building Event

Innovate UK KTN in partnership with the UK Research Office (UKRO), the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) / UK Science & Innovation Network (SIN) and the Horizon Europe National Contact Points from the UK, Poland (The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)), Lithuania (Research Council of Lithuania (LMT)) and Estonia (Estonian Research Council) are delighted to invite potential Horizon Europe applicants to our Horizon Europe Information and Consortia Building event focusing on the forthcoming calls under the WIDERA 2023 / 2024 Work Programme.

(There are various deadlines for the calls, mostly in September 2023 and March 2024.)

This event will provide an opportunity to learn more about WIDERA and the variety of funding and collaboration possibilities. The event will specifically cover the forthcoming Twinning calls under the 2023 / 2024 Work Programme. Delegates interested in these call topics will have the chance to present their project ideas or capability offering in a dedicated pitching session. Delegates will hear from case study speakers involved in successful projects and there will be plenty of time for networking and discussions in breakout rooms and 1-2-1 meetings to support the forming of consortia.

Agenda
All times are in GMT:

• 12:00 – Welcome, introduction and aims of the day – Belen Rebollo-Garcia, Innovate UK KTN
• 12:10 – Overview of WIDERA, UK participation and benefits for UK participants – Branwen Hide, UKRO
• 12.25 – Twinning Calls 2023 – Aurelija Povilaike, NCP from Lithuania (Lithuanian Research Council)
• 12.35 – NCP support for WIDERA coordinators – Karina Barantseva and Adam Weglowski – NCPs from Poland (National Centre for Research and Development)
• 12.45 – Q&A
• 13.00 – Case studies
• 13.20 – Q&A
• 13.30 – BREAK
• 13.35 – Introduction to the SIN network – UK SIN
• 13.40 Pitches (2 min each) – Please indicate on the registration form if you want to present a pitch. A pitch template will be made available shortly.
• 14.20 – Breakout rooms – several breakout rooms will be made available for specific topics to facilitate group discussion and consultation with NCPs (further details will be provided on the day)
• 14.55 – Wrap-up – Belen Rebollo-Garcia, Innovate UK KTN
• 15.00 – CLOSE

Who is this recording for?

The event is suitable for anyone with an interest in Horizon Europe and in exploring funding and collaboration opportunities under the “Widening participation and spreading excellence” (WIDERA) Work Programme.

Why should I watch?

This Horizon Europe Webinar will help you learn more about WIDERA and offer an opportunity to find project partners to form international collaborations and strategic partnerships. The key focus of the event will be to give delegates an overview of the policy and strategic background of WIDERA, the variety of funding opportunities the programme offers and will then specifically focus on the 2023 Twinning calls. There will be an opportunity to present a pitch about your project idea or your capability offering, and you’ll be able to talk to pitch presenters and other delegates in small groups and / or in 1-1 meetings.

The UK and European NCP Teams and KTN European Programmes Team will also be available to answer any specific or more confidential questions. Make the most of the pitching and 1-1 meeting opportunities and indicate on your registration form whether you wanted to take advantage of these. (Pitches are subject to space availability and pitches of project ideas in particular will be prioritised. We will contact you to confirm your place post registration.)

What is Horizon Europe WIDERA?

Policy and strategy
Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence actions under Horizon Europe, contribute to building research and innovation capacity for countries lagging behind.

They will strengthen their potential for successful participation in transnational research and innovation processes, promote networking and access to excellence.

Participants in the programme will be able to upgrade their research and innovation systems, making them stronger and allowing the EU as a whole to advance together, in line with the policy objectives of the European Research Area.

Areas of intervention (e.g.)

• Teaming – Support/create centres of excellences as role models to stimulate excellence, new investments and reforms of national research and innovation systems.
• Twinning – Develop excellence in chosen research and innovation domain, increase visibility of the research institutions and universities, and upskill its staff.
• ERA Chairs – To support universities or research organisations from eligible countries to attract and maintain high quality human resources and help excellent scientists and their teams to become game changers in their field
• ERA Talents – The call promotes innovative intersectoral research and innovation collaborations through cross-sectoral exchange of staff. The aim is to enhance the interoperability of careers and employability of researchers (talents) across sectors with a specific focus on widening countries.

More information:

• European Commission | Widening participation and spreading excellence
  (Policy, strategy, how to apply and work programmes)
• European Commission | Widening participation and spreading excellence
  (Factsheet)