10! - An order of magnitude change?

Towards the new European Research Framework Programme: What to keep, what to improve, where to invest.

Register for the Conference

The 8th edition ​​​​​NTNU European Conference​​

17-18 April 2024 | SOFITEL BRUSSELS EUROPE | In-person event with streaming

The state of globalisation and demographic change is rapidly affecting the dynamics and priorities of – and within – Europe, exacerbating the pressure on decision makers, shaping both the current and the potential of future policy priorities made. Furthermore, a new commission is coming, and with it also strategy choices that are likely to influence the future shaping and focus of European policies. 
 
In this 8th edition of the NTNU European Conference we will focus our attention on the mid-term assessment of Horizon Europe and together with high-level representatives from research and innovation, industry, higher education institutions, civil society and top Brussels policymakers, give rise to discussions on the possible shape and priorities for the next European framework programme (FP10). 
 
The NTNU European Conference will explore the above through a series of sessions, and in this year editions parallel sessions also give particular attention to three key strategic areas for Europe: Oceans, Health, and Energy

• #knowledge4EU #ntnueuropeanconference

Opening Evening Networking Reception 17th of April

 19:00 Welcoming Drinks and Light Snacks

 19:20 Welcome Adress: Tor Grande NTNU Rector

 ​​​​​​19:30 Fireside Chat with Roberto Viola European Commission, Director General DG CNCT 

Moderator: Toril Hernes - NTNU Vice Rector for Research and Innovation

 20:30 Networking cocktail 

Main Conference Programme 18th of April

 08:30 Registration desk opens. Welcome Coffee

Opening Plenary

The present: An analysis of the current situation for Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is approaching the mid-term period, and a mid-term evaluation process is currently ongoing. Several opinions are currently circulating on what worked, what did not work, and what can be improved. This process is currently paving the way toward the definition of the next framework programme as many of the outputs are likely to influence the shaping of FP10.

The opening plenary will set the scene by discussing the current status of Horizon Europe, opening up the opportunity to make reflections on the most important take-aways from the current framework programme, along with its least successful elements and potential corrective measures moving forward. 

Questions to be explored

Is it worth continuing a mission-oriented approach? Do we need to revise the EIT KIC model? Is there a need to simplify and rationalise the strategic partnerships? These and other questions will be subject to the debate in this opening plenary session of the conference.

 09:00 Welcome introduction: Toril Hernes - NTNU Vice Rector

 09:10 Manuel Heitor, Professor at the University of Lisbon - Chairman of the High Level Group for the evaluation of Horizon Europe

 09:25 Massimiliano Esposito - EC DG RTD, Head of Unit, Common Strategic Planning and Programming Services

 09:40 Panel Debate

Moderator: Toril Hernes - NTNU Vice Rector for Research and Innovation

Panelists

• Massimiliano Esposito – EC DG RTD, Head of Unit, Common Strategic Planning & Programming Service 
• Manuel Heitor - Professor at the University of Lisbon - Chairman of the High Level Group for the evaluation of Horizon Europe.
• Annemie Wyckmans – NTNU, Professor
• Amanda Crowfoot – EUA Secretary General  
• Dr. Lula Rosso – EARTO - EU Affairs Lead at VTT 

 10:30 Coffee Break

Networking opportunities

 10:45 Parallel Sessions

Oceans, Health, & Energy

Parallel Session 1: Oceans10 - Treasures and Forecasts

We are approaching the midway point of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. In September 2021, Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030 was launched with an ambitious agenda, followed by the launch of the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership in January 2023. On the way is a long-awaited call for an EIT KIC in the water, marine and maritime domains.

This parallel session takes a deep dive into the possibilities and obstacles ahead when it comes to achieving the goals of restoration and sustainable harvesting of the European waters and sea basins.

Questions to be explored

What are the lessons from the first phase of mission-orientation for the large and complex hydrosphere? Can the Sustainable Blue Economic Partnership (SBEP) carry the burden of transforming largely unsustainable ocean industries through research and innovation? How can an EIT KIC for the water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems support this transformation, and help create the ocean professionals we need for the future? 

 10:45 - 10:55: Welcome introduction: Siri Granum Carson

 10.55 - 11:10: Keynote: Silvia Nemeth, deputy head of the ‘Healthy Oceans and Seas’ unit in DG Research and Innovation: Status of European Oceans and Seas: Are we on the right course to reach the high ambitions of HEU, in particular the Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters? Which lessons have we learned so far, that will be useful for the design of the 10th FP?

 11:10 - 11:25: Keynote: Margherita Cappelletto, Italian Ministry of University and Research: Building a Sustainable Blue Economy in Europe – possibilities and challenges. Topic: Status of the SBEP. Are we succeeding, what can we do better? What is needed from the next FP in order to further promote a sustainable blue economy for Europe?

 11:25 - 11:40: Q&A

 11:40 - 12:15: Panel. Closing the blue loops: Europe joining forces for a more innovative, sustainable, and inclusive blue economy.

Moderator: Siri Granum Carson

Panelists

• Nuno Lorenco (CEO, + Atlantic CoLAB)
• Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett (Director of NTNU Oceans and Coast)
• Silvia Nemeth (Deputy head of the ‘Healthy Oceans and Seas’ unit in DG Research and Innovation)
• Margherita Cappelletto ( Italian Ministry of University and Research)
• Stefan Fritz (Managing Director and founding Head of the Brussels Office of KDM, The German Marine Research Consortium)

Parallel Session 2: Transforming Healthcare in Europe - The Power of AI and Digitization

The sustainability of the European healthcare systems is under pressure: shortage of healthcare workers, overuse of health services, increasing health disparities, and a changing demographics with an aging population that has more dementia and multimorbidity. Digitization of healthcare has the potential to transform the health care sector by improving the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of health services – making it more sustainable. Especially, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to play a major role both in digital health products and healthcare services. However, digitization has been slow due to complexity of the health care systems, lack of labelling-, certification- and reimbursement schemes for products and services, insufficient access to patient data, and lack of trust, transparency and accuracy standards in the AI solutions. There are also significant challenges and risks related to data privacy and security, human-AI interaction, algorithmic bias and fairness, and a variety of ethical, legal, and social implications. To boost the digitization of European Healthcare, EU has taken several steps: The European Health Data Space is under construction with the aim to improve health data access for cross-border health services and for research and innovation; The Medical Device Regulation has recently been updated; and the proposed Artificial Intelligence Act aims to ensure better conditions for the development and use of AI technology. These initiatives are expected to help overcome the challenges and risks associated with digitization and AI in healthcare, and to promote the development of a more sustainable healthcare system in Europe.  In this session we will explore how EU through digital solutions and data driven research can facilitate more sustainable healthcare:

Questions to be explored

Current and future trends in AI for healthcare: What are the latest developments in AI for healthcare? How can we leverage these developments to improve health services? What are the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing AI in healthcare?

Responsible research and innovation: How should we conduct responsible research and innovation on AI for healthcare? What are the ethical, legal, and social implications of AI in healthcare? How can we develop digital products and services that foster trust, transparency, and accountability among stakeholders and ensure more sustainable healthcare systems? 

Facilitating scientific breakthroughs: What EU policies facilitate a digital transition in health care. How can the European Health Data Space facilitate scientific breakthroughs in data- driven research and innovation on health and population data? 

 10:45 - 10:50 Welcome: Chair Marius Widerøe

 10:50 - 11:05 "Current and future trends and innovations in AI for healthcare": Kerstin Bach, Research Director at NorwAI and AI Professor at NTNU

 11:05 - 11:20 "Responsible AI for healthcare": Dominique Chu, Researcher, Lecturer at the University of Kent

 11:20 - 11:35 "How can AI in science benefit the health sector?": Karim Berkouk, Policy Officer, Unit for Industry 5.0 and AI in Science Unit (RTD-E4), DG-RTD, European Commission

 11:35 - 12:15 Panel conversation. 

Moderator: Marius Widerøe

Panelists

• Kerstin Bach
• Dominique Chu
• Karim Berkouk

Parallel Session 3: The Geopolitics of Energy 

A considerable amount of clean energy technology is needed to support reaching Europe's 2030 and 2050 climate targets. Europe largely imports these technologies, and many non- EU countries have stepped up their efforts to expand their clean energy manufacturing capacity. The tendencies towards a de-globalization of the world and policies that strengthen countries and regions' self-sufficiency in raw materials and technology will disrupt value chains causing increased costs and delay the race to net zero 2050. We see tendencies towards a subsidy race and the EU and the US are developing strategies such as the Net-zero Industry Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to bring knowledge and industrial production of solar cells, batteries and hydrogen technologies and systems home from China. The European Parliament voted (21.11.23) through its position on the Net-Zero Industry Act, a proposed EU plan to produce 40% of its net-zero technologies by 2030. The proposed regulation would aim to ensure that, by 2030, the manufacturing capacity in the EU for these strategic net-zero technologies reaches an overall benchmark of at least 40% of the EU's annual deployment needs. It would also set an EU level target for annual CO2 injection capacity by 2030 (50 million tonnes). 

Questions to be explored

In a world that is becoming increasingly de-globalized, how should the EU respond to the foreign policy dynamics between China and the US, particularly concerning their ambitions to foster industrial and technological development within Europe?

What strategies should the EU prioritize to establish complete value chains in both materials and technologies?

Furthermore, what research and innovation policies are imperative for Europe to achieve its industrial development goals and reach Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2050?

 10:45 - 10:50 Opening welcome: Prof emeritus Johan E. Hustad

 10:50 - 11:10 Keynote: Paula Pinho, Director of Directorate Just Transition, Consumers, Energy Security, Efficiency and Innovation in DG ENER, European Commission

 11:10 - 11:25 Keynote: Prof Asgeir Tomasgard, Director NTNU Energy

 11:25 - 11:30 Q&A

 11:30 - 12:15 Panel: Research and innovation policies for Europe to achieve complete value chains for NZE2050.

Panelists

• Paula Pinho, Director of Directorate Just Transition, Consumers, Energy Security, Efficiency and Innovation, DG ENER, European Commission
• Asgeir Tomasgard, Director NTNU Energy
• Tor Ulleberg, Equinor(TBC). 
• Adel El Gammal, EERA Secretary General

• Olav Aamlid Syversen Vice President Political and Public Affairs - Head of EU Affairs & Country Manager Belgium, Equinor

Moderator: Prof emeritus Johan E. Hustad

 12:15 Networking Lunch

Afternoon Session

Towards FP 10 - What will the political baseline for the new framework programme, and priorities be in the years to come?

A new commission is coming, and with it, policy choices/directions that are likely to influence the future shaping/focus of the next framework programme FP10. 

Current approaches have been centred mostly on the green- and digital transition, which have shaped the priorities and design of the current Horizon Europe programme. The world is however changing, and with it, the possible future policy priorities for Europe. 

Questions to be explored

How will demographic changes, climate changes and the de-globalization trend affect future priorities? Will the green deal still be a prominent and driving feature? If so, will there also be a need to adapt and expand to new policy focus areas? What could be the new priority areas? What are the right approaches and instruments to be adopted in FP10, to best reflect these priorities?  How do we balance basic research, applied research and innovation to maximize societal impact now and in the future? 

The closing plenary will include inspiration from the parallel session outcomes.

 13:35 Opening: Massimo Busuoli – Director NTNU Brussels office

 13:40 Keynote: When education makes the difference, Terje Andreas Eikemo – Professor of sociology at NTNU and Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research Lead (CHAIN)

 13:55 Resume from the Parallel sessions short outlines from Moderators

• OCEANS - Siri Granum Carson – NTNU Professor
• ENERGY - Johan Einar Hustad – NTNU PRofessor
• HEALTH - Marius Wideroe – NTNU Director of Health Strategic Area

CLOSING PLENARY

 14:15 Keynote: Virginie Battu-Henriksson – Member of VP Maroš Šefčovič Cabinet, European Commission

 14:25 Keynote: "Openness to the world and research security in a challenging international context". Maria Cristina Russo – EC DG RTD – Director International Cooperation Directorate

 14:35 Panel Debate

Panelists

• Virginie Battu-Henriksson – EC, Member of VP Maroš Šefčovič Cabinet,
• Maria Cristina Russo – EC DG RTD – Director International Cooperation Directorate
• Toril Hernes – NTNU Pro-Rector for Innovation
• Paweł Świeboda – EUROPEAN POLICY CENTER Visiting expert fellow
• Prof. Terje Andreas Eikimo – Professor of sociology at NTNU and Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research Lead (CHAIN)

 15:30 Conference Ends

About the Conference

The NTNU European Conference is an event introduced in the Brussels Arena in 2016. It aims to facilitate discussions on R&I and Education policies and strategies between stakeholders. 

The conference has grown in siginificance and popularity with increasing registrations and attendance over the years, becoming an arena of interaction between policymakers and representatives of higher education, industry, research, innovation as well as the civil society.