(28 January 2016) Italy is very much involved in the evaluation of two flagship EU research projects, supported with a ten-year loan amounting to €1 billion each: Maria Chiara Carrozza, MP and professor at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa, has been appointed President of the Commission that will assess the midterm plan of the two initiatives, launched in 2013 and running until 2023. The first wants to improve our understanding of the functioning of the human brain while also working on a “supercomputer” inspired by the characteristics of the human brain; the secondly will expand our knowledge of graphene, a nanomaterial with diamond-level resistance and the flexibility of plastic. By December 2016, the Commission will carry out an initial assessment for the European “Horizon 2020” development program. Chaired by Maria Chiara Carrozza, the Commission includes personalities of the highest profile on the European scene with extensive experience in the design and coordination of ambitious research projects, combined with in-depth knowledge of the EU research and innovation policies. “I am proud to have received this appointment – comments Maria Chiara Carrozza on the phone shortly after the official announcement – and I will do my best to meet the objectives set by the European Assessment guidelines”. (PO / red)
Italy’s leadership in two “flagship projects” on the brain and graphene
