May 2014

PACE-Net Plus is a project funded by the European Commission to strengthen further bi-regional science, technology and innovation (ST&I) cooperation and dialogue between the Pacific Region and the European Union. The project brings together 16 members, from the Pacific region and the EU.

More information: http://plus.pacenet.eu/

Editorial

After 6 months of existence, PACE-Net Plus has already undertaken several of its activities:

Two InfoDays were organised in December and March 2014, two others are under preparation (Papeete and Auckland).
A three-day Conference covering the three project themes (health; food security & bio economy; climate & resource efficiency) will be held in September in Bremen. More details will be published soon on the project website.
Three other workshops / think tanks will be held in Papeete, Noumea and Auckland.
A bi-regional platform is planned to be held in Auckland in December 2014.
A large key stakeholders consultation has been launched this month in order to collect and analyse information related to regional and bi-regional ST&I collaborative programmes and their effectiveness in enhancing EU-Pacific cooperation.
Country files listing research organisations in the Pacific will be produced.

InfoDays and Horizon 2020

Past

Second InfoDay on Horizon 2020

4 March 2014 at IRD Noumea, New Caledonia

After the success the first one (Sydney, Dec. 2013), PACE-NET Plus organised a second InfoDay on Horizon 2020 in IRD premises in Noumea on 4 March 2014. Approximately 60 stakeholders from different backgrounds attended the event.

Presentations covered the major opportunities in Horizon 2020, including mobility programmes, as well as the first calls and the rules of participation. It was also an opportunity to present PACE-Net Plus roadmap for the coming year, discuss the role of research for regional cooperation within New Caledonia, and consider the ways to enhance it through Horizon 2020.

More information: http://plus.pacenet.eu/events/horizon2020-infoday-noumea-2014

To come

Third InfoDay / Multiplier Forum

New Zealand — 10–11 June, Auckland

A third Infoday organised by our New Zealand partner (LCR) will take place in New Zealand on 10–11 June. The event will aim to bring together NZ and Pacific scientists, along with EU and NZ research funding /government representatives to discuss EU-Pacific collaboration and H2020.

More information: http://plus.pacenet.eu/events/infoday-auckland-2014

Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation Programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014–2020).

More information on the Participants Portal: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal

Other upcoming events

Pace-Net+ Conference to take place in September, in Bremen (Germany)

This conference will be split in three workshops labelled “Think tanks”, which will cover three of the PACE-Net+ priorities, namely Health, Food Security, and Climate & Resource efficiency. Under these rather wide themes, particular issues of interest for both the EU and the Pacific will be discussed. The Conference should result in the identification of priority areas, possible joint initiatives and innovation niches for EU-Pacific cooperation in STI. The aim will be to bring together a wide and diverse audience in order to confront different point of views and to enrich the debates.

The 3^rd International Conference on Small Island Developing States, in Apia (Samoa)

The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States will be held from 1–4 September 2014 in Apia, Samoa. It will focus the world’s attention on a group of countries that remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities. More information: http://www.sids2014.org/

PACE-Net Plus Satellite event

With the help of our Samoan partner, the National University of Samoa, PACE-Net Plus plans to organise a satellite event back-to-back with the 3^rd International SIDS conference in Apia (September 2014).

Other events of interest

Webinar on Horizon 2020 information

Presented by the CAESIE project, Tuesday 20 May, 4pm AEST

This webinar will deal with: Introduction to Horizon 2020; Outlook on legal and financial aspects; Possibilities particularly for Australian researchers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); Advice on the application process.

Link: http://caesie.org/news/2014/5/7/webinar-on-horizon-2020-information-for-australian-researchers

5^th INCO Conference — Addressing Future Challenges

Athens, Greece, 2–4 June 2014

The Conference brings together international cooperation experts from all over the world to discuss the future of research in relation to the global challenges lying ahead in order to acquire insight for future coordinated actions.

Link: http://www.inco-conference.eu/

Challenges of Political, Economic and Legal Governance in a Changing Pacific

Papetee, French Polynesia, 3–5 June 2014

This event will aim to review economic, political and legal issues in island states and territories and point the way towards good governance in an era of globalisation.

Link: http://pipsa2014.wordpress.com/

2014 State of the Pacific Conference

Canberra, Australia, 18–19 June 2014

The Conference will showcase research on the Pacific region and bring together stakeholders from different backgrounds to discuss the important nexus between research and policy.

Link: http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/cap-events/2014-06-18/state-pacific-2014