Ref. Ares(2019)2968224 - 03/05/2019
1. STEERING BRIEF
Objectives
• Inform that science can play a useful peace role in diplomatic relations and
therefore that science diplomacy should be encouraged.
Line to Take
• Religious tolerance, preventive and repressive policies against violent
radicalisation and the peaceful coexistence of religions in Europe are of utmost
importance. The Commission fully supports these aims and will continue to fund
research in these areas under Horizon Europe.
• At a time of increased social tension, highlight the need for a peaceful
coexistence of religions in Europe. Consequently, the Commission will continue
to support research in the area of religion and radicalisation. Acknowledge the
important role the Church plays as an arbiter of social dialogue.
• Ethics is an integral part of research from beginning to end, and ethical
compliance is seen as pivotal to achieve real research excellence.
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2. DEFENSIVES
Are there any new provisions regarding ethics in Horizon Europe?
Horizon Europe will build on the success of the Ethics Appraisal Scheme under Horizon
2020. This improved substantially the quality of the ethics evaluation, notably by
ensuring that all proposals considered for funding are reviewed by ethics experts and by
introducing Ethics Checks for sensitive cases.
For proposals involving the use of human
Embryonic Stem Cells or human embryos,
the rules will remain identical to those of Horizon 2020. Transparency and clarity will
be increased in Horizon Europe, since the rules for participation now include all the
main elements that were scattered in several documents under Horizon 2020.
The growing impact of science and technologies (gene editing, big data, AI, robotics)
on societies and economies, calls more than ever for the adherence to the highest ethics
standards. This will be a global objective of Horizon Europe.
How will Horizon Europe contribute to social inclusion, social policy and skills?
Horizon Europe projects will deliver evidence, data sets, insights, indicators and policy
recommendations with a view to enhancing social inclusion, addressing labour market
challenges, responding to technological transformations, enhancing skills, etc.
In particular, a core part of the Inclusive and Secure Society cluster is centred on the
themes of social inclusion and social policies, skills and social innovation (including the
social economy).
3. BACKGROUND
European Research Infrastructure for the Study of Religions
The need for a European Research Infrastructure for the Study of Religions is
recognised by the ESFRI Roadmap Update 2018.
The area of Religious Studies is considered by the ESFRI Roadmap 2018 as a High
Strategic Potential Area of Research in the field of Social and Cultural Innovation.
Following this recognition by the ESFRI, there is currently a call open (Horizon 2020,
Work programme 2018 – 2020). The Call was published in October 2018 (INFRADEV-
02-2019-2020 with deadline 20 March 2019) and is on the Support to Early Phase of the
above mentioned high strategic area. Under this call the Commission is expecting a
proposal requesting a contribution of €2 million that would allow the specific challenge
to be addressed.
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