This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Moedas meetings'.



Ref. Ares(2019)5332022 - 21/08/2019



 
Objectives 
 

• 
To discuss European Research, IBM participation in Horizon 2020 and the 
future Research Framework Programme.  
• 
To discuss the strategy of IBM for Cloud Computing, High Performance 
Computing, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things. 
 
Lines to Take 
IBM - General 
• 
Welcome IBM's strong participation  in Research Framework Programmes. 
Data indicate that it will be even larger in Horizon 2020 compared to FP7. 
• 
Ask IBM what Europe needs to do to improve its performance in Research 
and Innovation, especially with regards to data-driven research.  
• 
Welcome the decision of IBM to create a new global division that connects 
Cognitive computing and Internet of Things,  and to locate  the global 
headquarters of this new division in Europe. 
FP9 • 
Mention the new "Missions" approach that will be introduced in FP9, and 
invite IBM to suggest  ideas for bolder industry led mission closer to 
citizens. 
• 
If appropriate, mention the European Innovation Council (Pilot 
Horizon 2020, outlook FP9). 
European Science Cloud (EOSC) 
• 
Mention  that  the EOSC aims at building a collaborative environment for 
open research data, where resources will be shared, data found and re-used, 
and costs distributed equitably between data producers and data users; the 
European Open Science Cloud is a fundamental enabler of Open Science. 
High Performance Computing (HPC) – Digital Infrastructure 
• 
Mention that areas that will profit from the HPC investments include energy 
and climate, (enabling transition to carbon-free sources), environment 
(enabling decisions that help the preservation of natural ecosystems), 
healthcare (personalised medicine), digitisation of Industry  but also many 
others. 
• 
Explain that the strategic objective is to lift the EU among the top 
supercomputing powers  worldwide by deploying exascale capacity. The 
initiative should reduce European dependence on third countries' technology 
and reinforce Europe's position as a provider of high-end supercomputing 
resources. 
Artificial Intelligence (AI) 
• 
Express the opinion that AI-based technology could be used to solve some 
of the biggest current societal challenges: treating disease, finding cures, 
lowering fatality rates in road transport and minimising environmental harm 
from farming.  Machine learning is at the core of the 4th  Industrial 
Revolution. 
• 
Mention that Horizon 2020 has a very strong AI component (€700 million 
over the period 2014-2020).  
3/12 

 
2. SPEAKING POINTS 
 
IBM 
•  The  IBM  decision to place the  global headquarters of the new 
division  on  Connected Cognitive Computing in Munich Europe, is 
very welcome. 
•  I am pleased to see increased participation of IBM in Horizon 2020, 
comparing to an already very strong participation in FP7.   
High Performance Computing (HPC) – Cloud Computing 
•  The development of a pan European high-performance infrastructure 
is the basis for provisioning advanced digital services across borders 
and a prerequisite to boost European competitiveness. 
•  The ultimate goal is to enhance  Europe's scientific capabilities and 
industrial competitiveness by benefiting from the convergence of 
HPC, Big Data and Cloud Computing technologies. 
•  Thanks to a world-class European infrastructure of supercomputing 
(HPC) capability, this initiative will provide European science, 
industry and public authorities the means to compete and thrive in 
the digital economy. 
Artificial Intelligence (AI) 
•  Europe builds on significant research in AI and is particularly strong 
in cooperating robots, autonomous mobile robots. The Robotics and 
AI part of the Horizon 2020 framework programme is the world's 
largest civilian programme in the field with a budget of €700 million 
over the period 2014–2020, implemented through a contractual 
Public-Private Partnership.  
 
4/12 

 
3. DEFENSIVE POINTS  
Does the General Data Protection Regulation  (GDPR)  unnecessarily hamper 
development in this field?
 
No. The GDPR will boost legal certainty for businesses, with a single set of rules across 
the EU and one single regulatory authority streamlining lengthy processes. Non-EU 
companies, when offering their services to customers in the EU, will have to apply the 
same rules as EU companies. Furthermore, the new rules encourage privacy-friendly 
techniques such as pseudonymisation, anonymisation, encryption and data protection. 
Citizens will have better and clearer information on how their data is processed and 
presented, which will increase confidence in the use of technological applications. The 
"right to be forgotten" will be clarified and strengthened.  
Moreover, it will be easier to transfer personal data between service providers such as 
social networks –with the new right to "data portability". 
Will the European strategy on HPC respect international competition rules? 
Yes, all instruments are based on standard European legislation. Europe will seek 
competitive alternative sources of essential building blocks that can be used in several 
industrial domains. 
Will industry play a role in the definition of the European HPC strategy? 
Yes, the Commission is consulting with industrial stakeholders through the normal 
channels to get input. At this stage we are focused on establishing the cooperation 
framework between EU Member States to define  the strategic goals. With all due 
caution to avoid conflicts of interest, industry will be called to contribute to the 
definition and the realisation of the goals. 
How will Europe finance its HPC strategy? 
The investments for such ambitious goals are important and will require the 
combination of different funding sources (i.e. European and national public funds and 
private investments). Member States and the Commission have started to work on 
possible approaches to pool the necessary resources. These discussions will evolve in 
the coming year. 
 
5/12 




 
4.2 The European Science Cloud 
Context on the EOSC 
The Commission presented its vision for the European Open Science Cloud in April 
2016, as a key part of the Communication 'European Cloud Initiative – Building a 
competitive data and knowledge economy in Europe
'. 
The EOSC will build a collaborative environment for open research data, where 
resources will be shared, data found and re-used, and costs distributed equitably 
between data producers and data users.  The European Open Science Cloud is a 
fundamental enabler of Open Science. 
Since then, the Commission has discussed with  stakeholders and expert groups  within 
the  Open  Science Policy Platform,  High Level Expert Group, EOSC  Pilot project, 
Member States in order to  define the next steps of the project.    
Next Steps 
To move from vision to action, we are committing significant resources in 
Horizon 2020 to make the EOSC a reality by 2020.  
In  the Work Programme 2018-2020 of Horizon 2020,  the  science cloud is supported 
notably through the Call INFRA-EOSC; the Call covers all the key functions of the 
EOSC, with an overall budget of €260-300 million (the fork is due to the need to further 
define the budget for year 2020). 
4.3 Data on Cloud market Share 
 
 
 

 
7/12 

 
4.4 Facts and figures: IBM Participation in FP7 and Horizon 2020 
 
Transfer of ownership of results in Horizon 2020 projects 

In the past there was an issue regarding the standard grant agreement and the transfer of 
intellectual property rights to entities outside Europe, that affected the participation of 
IBM in Horizon 2020 projects. 
 
The Horizon 2020 Grant Agreement gives the possibility to the Commission, through an 
additional optional clause 30.3, to be informed in advance of any transfer of ownership 
of results of work performed in an Horizon 2020 funded project, if this transfer is 
foreseen to a partner established in a non-EU and non-Associated country. The 
Commission has then 60 days to object the transfer. This is a protective measure which 
does not forbid any transfer but sets up a preliminary control by the Commission that 
such transfer will not damage the competitive position of the EU industry. 
 
After discussions with representatives of IBM, the Commission has agreed to make two 
changes in the application of Article 30.3: 
1.  to provide more legal certainty, the WP will indicate from now on if the option 
will be inserted in a grant agreements under a given topic (but leaving open the 
possibility to exceptionally insert it without such indication if justified). 
 
2.  in case where the option is introduced in the grant agreement, the participants 
may notify the Commission of an intended transfer before the results are 
generated, if the result can be sufficiently identified at that stage (before they 
had to wait until specific results were generated). 
These changes were communicated to IBM's representatives and they highly welcomed 
the changes to the application of Article 30.3, both at senior and technical level. 
 
 
KEY figures on IBM Participation in FP7 and Horizon 2020 
 
 KEY FIGURES 
FP7 
Horizon 2020 
Eligible Proposals involving IBM 
511 
788 
Success rate 
30.7% 
12.4% 
Projects (Signed Grant Agreements) 
147 
97 
involving IBM 
EU total financial contribution to 
91.26 
45.82 
IBM Projects (million €) 
 
 
  
 
8/12 


 
 
9/12 


 
 
 
10/12 


 
 
 
 
11/12 

 
5. SOCIAL MEDIA 
Happy to meet 
 @IBM today.   
Excited to see IBM invest in #EU Research.  
12/12