Artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly boost scientific discovery and research efficiency. However, AI, especially generative AI, presents unpredictable risks. The dynamic nature of AI demands safe, ethical, responsible, and transparent use. In Horizon Europe, AI must be addressed in the ethical section of proposals, requiring applicants to be thorough in their AI research applications. This session will cover ethical considerations, new legislation, policies, guidelines, and offer feedback and cautionary tales.

Facilitator: Martha Cahill, National Contact Point for Horizon Europe's Cluster 1 - Health, Enterprise Ireland

Contributors:

John Durcan, Chief Technologist, IDA
Frances Abeton, Co-Founder and CEO of WHYZE Health
Patrick Fenton, Chief Operating Officer, IDIRO Analytics
Professor Alan Smeaton, Member of the Government's AI Advisory Council, Professor DCU, and a Founding Director of the Insight Centre for Data Analytics

Join us for an engaging session focused on Horizon Europe initiatives in the energy, mobility, environment and food sectors under the overarching theme of climate and sustainability. Experts from various fields will share insights on new developments in research and cutting-edge innovation that will help contribute to the green transition and promote sustainability. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on how Horizon Europe is making an impact now and what we can expect looking forward to 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping a more sustainable Europe.

Facilitator: Mark Sweeney, National Contact Point, Cluster 6 - Environment, Enterprise Ireland

Contributors:

Professor Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Jimmy Murphy, Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering and Lead Technical Engineer of the Lir National Ocean Test Facility, MaREI Centre, University College Cork
Dr Julia Calderwood, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Fisheries, Ecosystems and Advisory Services Division, Marine Institute
Professor Tadhg MacIntyre, Environmental Psychologist, Maynooth University
Dr Bob Flynn, National Delegate and National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe Cluster 5 - Mobility, Enterprise Ireland
Philip Cheasty, National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe Cluster 5 - Energy,  NCP Nuclear Fission and Fusion Energy, and NCP for Climate-neutral and Smart Cities Mission, Enterprise Ireland

Progress in digital, space and industrial technologies shapes all sectors of the economy and society. It transforms the way industry develops, creates new products, and is central to a sustainable future. As Europe gears up for a more resilient, green, and digital recovery, the EU needs to maintain a strong industrial and technology presence in key supply chains and ecosystems while safeguarding its ability to access and operate safely in space. This session will provide insights into how Ireland is doing in Digital, Industry and Space in Horizon Europe as well as shedding light on future opportunities.   

Facilitator: Sergio Fernandez-Ceballos, National Delegate for Horizon Europe’s Cluster 4 – Industry, Enterprise Ireland

Contributors:

Stephen O’Reilly, Cluster 4 - HE Digital Delegate and NCP, Enterprise Ireland
Barry Jennings, Cluster 4 - HE Space Delegate and NCP, Enterprise Ireland
Michael Murphy, Cluster 3 - HE Civil Security for Society National Delegate and NCP, Enterprise Ireland
Daniela Angione, National Delegate and National Contact for the European Innovation Council (EIC)

This session will focus on strengthening preparedness and response to emerging threats through research, emphasising the need for a collaborative, cross-border, intersectoral approach, while showcasing links across Horizon Europe Clusters and EU Programmes. It will feature a scene-setting presentation on pandemic preparedness, showcasing successful initiatives by Irish researchers as well as highlighting research opportunities for crisis response relating to climate change and security and defence.  A panel discussion will examine future goals under new EU Partnerships, explore EU coordination mechanisms for clinical trial readiness and response, and highlight Ireland’s national planning approach.

Facilitator: Patricia Clarke, Horizon Europe National Delegate for Cluster 1 - Health and Irish member of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA) Advisory Forum, Health Research Board

Contributors:

Paddy Mallon, Lead for Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials Network Ireland (ID-CTNI), Head of UCD Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research (CEPHR)
Oonagh Ward, Head of Research and Innovation Infrastructures HRB and Vice-Chair of ERCIN, the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network
Amanda Daly, Programme Manager: International Cooperation HRB and National Focal Point for EU4Health, the EU public health programme
Darragh O’Neill, Horizon Europe National Contact Point for Cluster 6 - Environment, Environmental Protection Agency

In this session, expert evaluators will share their insights on the evaluation process for Horizon Europe project proposals. You’ll gain valuable feedback from evaluators on Horizon Europe, including observations on new elements like lump sum funding and blind evaluation. Additionally, we’ll discuss practical tips and tricks for developing a successful Horizon Europe proposal.

Facilitator: Martha Cahill, National Contact Point for Horizon Europe’s Cluster 1 – Health, Enterprise Ireland

Contributors:

Professor Luke O Neill, Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin
Hillary Cronin, Research Office, Horizon Europe and Strategic Research Funding Coordinator, Munster Technological University
Daniela Angione, National Delegate and National Contact for the European Innovation Council (EIC)

Demystifying access to Horizon Europe opportunities through industry-academic collaboration.

Struggling to navigate Horizon Europe and understand the right opportunities for you? Does it seem like a different language? Join our panel of academic and industry experts who have cracked the code to unlock European funding through effective and collaborative industry-academic partnerships. Find out why it works, why it’s needed, and how to go about it.

Facilitator: James Walsh, National Contact Point for Horizon Europe’s European Innovation Council (EIC), Enterprise Ireland

Contributors:

Dr Lorraine Byrne, Executive Director, AMBER Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research
Professor Martin O’Halloran, Professor of Medical Electronics and Director of the Translational Medical Device Lab at the University of Galway
Professor Kevin O'Connor, Director of BiOrbic Bioeconomy Research Ireland Centre, Full Professor, School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD
Professor Markus Helfert, Director of the Innovation Value Institute and Professor for Digital Service Innovation at Maynooth University
Dr Finola Cliffe, Chief Operations Officer, Hooke Bio Ltd

Achieving meaningful participation from SSH practitioners across all Horizon Europe Clusters.

Though Social Science and Humanities (SSH) activity is often seen as ‘belonging’ to Cluster 2 of Horizon Europe, there is a recognised need for SSH involvement right across all of the Global Challenges: from creative opportunities afforded by new technologies, to novel legal and business models for the circular economy, to behavioural issues affecting public health, SSH disciplines have a major part to play in research. With contributions from experienced interdisciplinary researchers, this session will look into the opportunities for researchers, and discuss the challenges for SSH researchers in becoming involved and ensuring meaningful participation in consortia.

Facilitator: Patrick Lansley, National Contact Point for Horizon Europe’s Cluster 2 – Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, Irish Universities Association

Contributors:

Dr David Whyte, Senior Postdoctoral Researcher in Coastal Communities at MaREI / UCC
Dr Doireann Wallace, Senior Interdisciplinary Research Funding Specialist (Climate & Sustainability), Trinity College Dublin
Professor Deirdre O’Shea, Professor of Work & Organisational Psychology, University of Limerick
Professor Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Mary Galvin, Head of Department: Applied Social Studies, Munster Technological University

In the light of burgeoning emphasis on security and tech sovereignty within EU programmes and beyond, this session will provide food for thought. It will address global economic and security trends, focusing on their impact on Horizon Europe and other EU programmes such as EDF and DEP. Indicatively, issues such as Article 22.5 and its application in Horizon Europe, the potential for dual civ-mil topics in FP10 considering the recent EC white paper, the council recommendation on enhancing research security, implications for international cooperation, and related national challenges including security clearances, CIS accreditation, co-funding, college rules, will feature.

Facilitator: Michael Murphy, National Delegate for Horizon Europe’s Cluster 3 - Civil Security for Society, Enterprise Ireland

Contributors:

Micol Martinelli, National Director for Horizon Europe in Ireland (acting), National Contact Point European Institute of Innovation and Technology (acting), and Career-FIT and Career-FIT PLUS Programme Manager
Stephen O’Reilly, Cluster 4 Digital NCP, Enterprise Ireland
Sergio Fernandez-Ceballos, National Delegate for Cluster 4 Digital, Industry & Space, Enterprise Ireland
Barry Jennings, Cluster 4 – Space NCP, Enterprise Ireland