Evaluation on the EU-Faroese cooperation handed to the Minister
A report on the participation in FP7 and Horizon 2020, including recommendations on future course was handed to the Minister for Research, Mr. Jenis av Rana, beginning of November 2020.
The Research Council worked out the report upon request from the Minister as the Horizon 2020 period will close at the end of the year and a new Association Agreement is being prepared. The participation is elucidated overall and by showing examples. The attention is on Europe as an international platform, which has major impact on research, development, and innovation in the Faroe Islands.
There are challenges in making the most of the Association Agreement. Even if many very good proposals have been submitted to Horizon 2020 the financial return is not sufficient yet. Because of a high growth in GDP, the Faroe Islands have paid more for the participation in the last few years than was expected. This has increased the gap between the amount paid and the return amount.
Good results, other than financial results, come from the active participation in international networks. The value of the participation is therefor much higher than the financial settlement of the projects. Without the participation the Faroese researchers would not have the experience or recognition, nor would the Faroe Islands have the good reputation it has now.
The advice is to continue in Horizon Europe. In the meeting with the Minister the representatives from the Research Council discussed the outcome of the evaluation and how to proceed in the coming years.
The Minister, Mr. Jenis av Rana, is pleased with the report. The Government has agreed to continue the cooperation with the EU in the area of Research and Innovation. The Research Council will now commence the public information about the future Framework Programme, Horizon Europe.
The report is in Faroese
Picture from the left: Kristianna Sjóvará, Adviser, Jenis av Rana, Minister, Ministry Foreign Affairs and Culture, Maria Húsgarð, Adviser, and Annika Sølvará, Director Research Council