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