On the 17th of June the Africa Ireland Economic Forum took place in the Convention Centre Dublin. This year’s event was held at one of the most well-known locations in Ireland and saw the participation of high-level speakers from several key African countries and the full support from the Department of Foreign Affairs with the presence of the Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Ms. Mary Mitchell O'Connor and the Director General of Irish Aid, Mr. Michael Gaffey.

On 1st July 2016 Schuman Associates delivered a workshop to BECI-Brussels Enterprises Commerce & Industry on the new EU Financial instruments for Africa (Agrifi, Electrifi, and Africa Trust Fund). BECI represents 35,000 companies with economic activities in Brussels, as well as self-employed individuals, company managers and liberal professions.

This information session presented the challenges for enhancing the public private partnership between the EU and Africa and opportunities for private companies with these EU Financial Instruments.

Schuman Associates Warsaw Office...Did you know?

The European Commission published today an updated work programme for 2017 of Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation funding scheme. In the course of 2017, the Commission will invest €8.5 billion in a number of cross cutting initiatives, such as: Circular Economy (€325 million), Smart and Sustainable Cities (€115 million), Green Vehicles (€133 million) and Internet of Things (€37 million). The major novelty of the new programme is the introduction of open research data in all new Horizon 2020 calls, making the free online access to scientific data the norm. The new programme will also support research of migration trends and policies and will increase funding for cutting-edge research.

Schuman Associates Madrid Office...Did you know?

Did you know that in 2016 Spain celebrates 30 years being in the EU?

On 16th September 2016 Schuman Associates Schuman in partnership with BECI is organizing a one day Training Workshop "Unlocking EU Funding opportunities in Africa" on how to participate to financed EU projects in Africa.

In yesterday`s State of the European Union address, President Junker announced that the Commission proposes €400 million more for Horizon 2020. The proposed increase in the budget of the EU`s largest research and innovation programme was confirmed by Commissioner Modeas and Commissioner Georgieva.

Have the pleasure to invite you to a roundtable panel:

How EU structural and investment funds drive innovation in healthcare. Would simplification help? 

The event is organized under the umbrella of European Week of Regions and Cities 2016 (EWRC) and it will take place on:

13 October between 9:00 and 11:00.

On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom expressed via a Referendum its wish to leave the European Union, triggering a complex process of withdrawal. 

The final arrangement, to be agreed between the UK and the EU in the coming months and years, will have a significant impact on trade and a whole host of other issues. Participation in EU funding programmes such as Horizon 2020 will also present challenges for British organisations.

Healthcare is one of the largest sectors in the EU contributing to job creation and to economic growth. It accounts for 8% of the total European workforce and for 10% of the EU´s GDP. However, the health systems models applied today result in ever-increasing costs. On 13th October,  under the framework of the European Week of Regions and Cities, Philips and Schuman Associates co-organised a Side Event in Brussels with key EU stakeholders to reflect on how ESIF funds can drive innovation in health systems. 

Jan Dröge, Partner at Schuman Associates will moderate the next Sector Seminar Water in EU External Action Instruments organized by the Permanent Representation of Austria to the European Union - Wirtschaftskammer Osterreich which will  gather delegates from Permanent Representations, Trade Promotion Organizations from EU Member States and over 100 companies from private sector. The seminar will take place on 15th November 2016.

Schuman Associates Partner, Jan Dröge, will be moderating the conference " Private Sector Development in EU External Action Programmes", which is organized by the Slovak 2016 Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Slovakian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The conference will be held in Bratislava on 24 November 2016 and will examine the role of private sector in implementing EU external assistance programmes and financial instruments.

Schuman Associates was invited to the Cembureau annual conference to speak on EU Funding Opportunities for Energy. Laura Heuvinck presented the possibilities offered by a variety of EU funds from Horizon 2020, the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), the EFSI also known as the Juncker Package, LIFE+ and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

Do you run an SME and need additional funding for research?  EUROSTARS is an exciting opportunity for R&D performing SMEs. This joint programme between EUREKA and the European Commission supports the development of innovative products, process and services close to market. In the 2014-2020 period it has a total public budget of €1.14 billion. 

The EU is collectively the biggest donor in the world, providing over 50 BEUR a year together with its Member States to translate policy objectives into effective strategies and actions that meet country or regional needs. The EU has different types of EU External Aid funding instrumentswhich cover nearly all the geographies around the world. It also counts with thematic programmes which address multiple fields of cooperation such as peace and security, climate change, migration, food security, etc.in several countries.

In the mid-term review the Commission suggested an increase of €400 million for HORIZON 2020- EU's funding programme for research and innovation. However, Günther Oettinger, recently appointed to manage the EU's budget, said H2020 will in the end only receive €200 million. The money that is allocated presents a compensation for the €2.2 billion that was taken from the programme to fund Juncker Plan: The European Fund for Strategic Investments.

The European Development Days (EDD) are Europe’s leading forum on development and international cooperation. Organised by the European Commission, the forum brings the development community together to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

European Week of Regions and Cities (so called Open Days) is an annual four-day event in Brussels during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement the European Union cohesion policy (EU funding), and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance.