Maths in HORIZON 2020

At the ECMI2016, some very important news became clear during the Minisymposium MS38, Maths in HORIZON 2020 and beyond, organized by Dietmar Hömberg and Wil Schilders (http://www.usc.es/congresos/ecmi2016/?page_id=2130).

Dr. Anni Hellmann, Deputy Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission, presented the results of the European Commission’s consultation on mathematics for Horizon2020 (http://www.usc.es/congresos/ecmi2016/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/405b.pdf). The ECMI conference was the publication event of the results. The Report and its Annex are available: https://ec.europa.eu/futurium/en/content/mathematics-europe-report-open-consultation.

As Dr. Hellmann said, now is the time to explore the potential and necessity of mathematics for future research and to find ways of bringing that message forward to the prioritization process of the future funding programs. Two facts motivate this request: today’s digital society depends on mathematics and algorithms – and there is a vast pool of mathematical talent in Europe.

This initiative opens the path towards the recognition of Mathematics as an important field for the European Science and Innovation. In the US, a large program of development of Mathematics as a whole is underway (http://connect.siam.org/the-mathematical-sciences-in-2025-presentation-at-the-nsf/).

The next meeting about the role of mathematics in Horizon2020, takes place during the ICT Proposers’ Day 2016, 26-27 September 2016 in Bratislava, Slovakia (https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/ict-proposers-day-2016). The aim of ICT Proposers’ day is to promote European ICT Research & Innovation and focus on the Horizon 2020 Work Programme for 2016 and 2017. We find the topic “Mathematics in H2020” in schedule on Tuesday 27 September, at 14:00-14:40 (https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/events/cf/ict-proposers-day-2016/item-display.cfm?id=18451). Hope that ECMI will be present at this event.