Faroe Islands joins Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme

Faroese researchers, innovators and research entities can now participate in the €95.5 billion programme on equal terms with entities from the EU Member States.

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said:

“This year marks 12 years of a successful cooperation in research and innovation between the Faroe Islands and the EU. It has been an incredible journey with impressive results and many success stories along the way. A range of European projects have witnessed an active involvement of Faroese researchers and institutes in areas such as environment, ocean science and exploitation, sustainable agriculture and forestry, food, resource efficiency and raw materials. I wish all Faroese participants a lot of success across the different parts of Horizon Europe.”

The signature ceremony took place in the premises of the Council of the European Union. Commissioner Gabriel and Mr Jenis av Rana, Faroese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Culture, joined the ceremony remotely, while Ms. Joanna Drake, the Deputy Director-General of the Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, has signed the agreement with Ms Elin Mortensen, Head of Mission of the Faroes to the EU and Mr Fabrice Dubreuil, Deputy Permanent Representative of France.

The association supports the ’Global Approach to Research and Innovation’ and reconfirms Europe’s commitment to a level of global openness needed to drive excellence, pool resources for faster scientific progress and develop vibrant innovation ecosystems.

Background

The fruitful EU-Faroese collaboration in research & innovation dates back to 2010, when the Faroe Islands first associated to the EU’s 7th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP7). The Faroese participation level in Horizon 2020 has increased by a clear margin compared with FP7, with a very high overall success rate of 20%. The formal relationship between the Faroes and the EU – apart from the association to R&I Framework Programmes – is based on two bilateral agreements: a Fisheries Agreement concluded in 1977 (entered into force in 1981) and a Free Trade Agreement concluded in 1996.

Multiple success stories result from this previous successful cooperation. They cover a variety of scientific areas such as: The PrimeFish project, which aims at improving the economic sustainability of European fisheries and aquaculture sectors; the Macro Cascade project, which is proving the concept of cascading marine macroalgal biorefinery; the Blue Action project, which focuses on the impact of the Arctic on weather and climate; and the SEDNA project, which is developing an innovative approach to safe maritime operations under the extreme weather conditions in the Arctic; among others.

For more information read International Cooperation with Faroe Islands

Source: European Commission Website