Iliana Ivanova (Bulgarian) has been appointed as the new EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. She replaces Mariya Gabriel and was previously Member of the European Parliament and at the European Court of Auditors. She will serve until the end of the current Commission's term, October 31, 2024.
More information can be found in the European Parliament press release.

The European Commission and the UK Government have concluded negotiations and reached an agreement in principle on the association of the UK to Horizon Europe and Copernicus under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

UK researchers will be able to fully participate in the Horizon Europe programme on the same terms as researchers from other associated countries, including leading consortia, from the 2024 Work Programmes and onwards – including any 2024 calls opening this year.

For calls from the 2023 Work Programmes, the European Commission will continue to administer transitional arrangements and the UK will continue to provide funding under the UK Guarantee. UK and EU scientists and researchers can have confidence in continuing long-term partnerships with their counterparts.

For more details please have a look at the website of the European Commission and at the UK Research and Innovation Website.

The European Commission has published an updated Guide on "Complementary funding mechanisms in third countries and territories". A partner from a non-eligible country (third countries and territories) can participate as an "Associated Partner" in Horizon Europe projects, but usually does not receive any EU funding and has to cover the costs elsewhere. Various countries have national funding for this, which is presented in the updated guide.
See the full guide on the European Commission's website

The European Commission has published ten candidates for new European partnerships that could start in the second half of Horizon Europe. The list of proposals will be discussed with the member states and associated states in the coming months and adjusted if necessary. The final portfolio of European partnerships will be included in the Strategic Plan 2025-2027, to be published in 2024.
The following partnerships are available for consultation:

1. Brain Health
2. Forests and forestry for a sustainable future
3. Innovative materials for the EU
4. On-orbit demonstration and validation
5. Raw materials for the green and digital transition
6. Resilient cultural heritage
7. Social Transformations and Resilience
8. Solar Photovoltaic
9. Textiles of the future
10. Virtual Worlds

More information can be found on the European Commission's website

The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) has pre-published the drafts for calls 4 and 5. Six topics are currently planned for the two-stage Call 4 and four topics for the one-stage Call 5, which will be finalized and published in the coming weeks.
The topics are currently being consulted with the States' Representatives Group and the Science and Innovation Panel. They can therefore change significantly between the versions now published and the publication of the call. Applicants should therefore check the final, approved topic texts after publication of the call for proposals. Release is expected on July 27, 2023.

More information and the draft calls for calls 4 and 5 can be found on the IHI website.

For the two calls, the IHI organizes the virtual "IHI Call Days" where the participation rules and the topics are presented. In addition, there are pitching sessions for the IHI Call Day 5, where participants can present their expertise. Places are limited and registration is only possible until June 15, 2023.

• IHI Call Day 4: June 19-22, 2023
• IHI Call Day 5: June 26-29, 2023

The future One Health Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) partnership has published the draft of its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).
The SRIA will lead the activities of the One Health AMR Partnership, which coordinates and promotes AMR research and innovation as part of an interdisciplinary One Health approach. The partnership aims to contribute advanced knowledge, innovative solutions and policies to reduce the burden of AMR. It is expected to start in 2025.

More information and the draft SRIA can be found on the JPI AMR website.
JPI (Joint Programming Initiative) AMR is the current partnership with AMR and will be replaced by the new partnership "One Health AMR".

The brokerage platform created for the brokerage event on June 02, 2023 remains open for partner search and bilateral meetings until September 03, 2023. The brokerage platform is intended to facilitate contacts between stakeholders interested in the tenders in the health cluster for 2024 and to promote joint cooperation for the formation of a consortium.
Visit the Brokerage website for more information and to register and schedule bilateral meetings.

The EU Commission conducted a large public consultation on the past, present and future of European Framework Programs for Research and Innovation for the years 2014 - 2027. In total, more than 2000 responses were received.
A first summary has now been published in the Synopsis Report, which contains the results of the consultation section on the Strategic Plan for Horizon Europe (2025 - 2027). The following topics were considered for the first summary:

• Identification of priorities and societal challenges for the future,
• Expected impacts of the six clusters,
• Synergies and complements,
• EU Missions and European Partnerships.

In addition, 108 position papers were taken into account for the evaluation, 40 of which were written by universities or research institutions.
The synopsis report can be found on the European Commission's website.

Take a look at the Synopsis Report

The EU Commission has updated the Template "Information on Clinical Studies" in order to include complex trials and a reference to the mandatory use of the Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS).
The new version will be used in the submission system of forthcoming topics and is currently published on the F&T portal: 
Template on "INFORMATION ON CLINICAL STUDIES"

A frequently asked question about the mandatory use of CTIS has been published on the F&T Portal: FAQ on CTI

HNN 3.0 will soon provide further support material on this subject.

The EU Commission has published the submission figures for the calls in the Horizon Europe Cluster Health with a submission deadline on April 13, 2023, and in the Cancer Mission with a submission deadline on April 12, 2023,.

The EU Commission will probably inform the applicants about the results of the assessment on August 4, 2023, at the earliest.

You can find the numbers for submitted applications under the individual call for proposals, in the “Topic updates” section (Health Cluster) or in the “Call updates” section (Cancer Mission) on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

Funding and Tenders Portal