Aug. 1 – Italy is betting on Horizon 2020 to uphold “in Brussels all the weight of a country with a great scientific and industrial tradition” such as Italy, said the minister of Education, University and Research, Maria Chiara Carrozza, who appointed the new 14 national representatives in the Framework Committee for the European Research Program, for the 2014-2020 period. The Horizon 2020 initiative, which provides for a budget of €80 billion for the overall period, is the European Union’s program dedicated to research and innovation, and an integral part of the strategy to create new growth and jobs in Europe, with the aim of improving the Union’s international competitiveness. Among the purposes of the Framework Program, there is that of bridging the gap between research and markets by helping innovative companies develop their technology to create products with real commercial potential, through the promotion of partnerships between the private sector and United States. Minister Carrozza said that “Italy must adopt an ambitious goal: to be able to receive a share of the funding at least equal to the Italian financial contribution to the program, fact that unfortunately did not happen in the 7th Framework Program. It will be a difficult task, but not impossible. Under certain conditions, Italy’s continued presence remains proactive and informed, with strong and convinced support to the entire national research and innovation system (universities, companies, research organizations, regions).”
