Why is the European Commission proposing research and innovation partnerships with the private sector under Horizon 2020?

Partnerships in research and innovation address strategic technologies that will underpin growth and jobs in key sectors of a knowledge-based European economy and also target important societal challenges.

Lithuania Post launched a new national electronic mail service in June 2013 called e.pristatymas (e-delivery). The new e-delivery system won the award presented by the Lithuanian Business Confederation for the best service in the sphere of the information technologies.

On this brisk December day towards the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one, the City of Vilnius took another step towards restoring a part of its important Jewish heritage and past.

The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Passport Tracking and AFIS System (CenAFIS) uses MegaMatcher biometric technology developed by Lithuanian company Neurotechnology.

On Monday, the names of the six laureates of Lithuanian National Culture and Art Awards were announced. Actor Donatas Banionis, composers Faustas Latenas and Giedrius Antanas Kuprevicius, writer Vladas Braziunas and actor Juozas Budratis were presented the prestigious awards.

On 9-10 December over 200 education experts from 33 UNESCO participant countries gather in Vilnius to discuss how to improve accessibility, quality and efficiency of lifelong learning. On behalf of the Lithuanian Presidency, Minister of Education and Science Dainius Pavalkis welcomed the conference on adult learning underlining the importance of lifelong learning in the constantly changing world.

On 4 December President Dalia Grybauskaitė opened Vilnius Innovation Forum 2013 "Innovation Drift" and awarded the winner of the business-science partnership competition.

How is funding organised under Horizon 2020?

Horizon 2020 is built around three pillars:

1. Support for "Excellent Science" – including grants for individual researchers from the European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships (formerly known as Marie Curie fellowships);
2. Support for "Industrial Leadership" – including grants for small and medium-sized enterprises and indirect finance for companies through the European Investment Bank and other financial intermediaries;
3. Support for research to tackle "societal challenges". During negotiations between the European Parliament and Council it was decided to support research towards meeting seven broad challenges:

Copernicus, the EU's new Earth Observation System, was approved by the Industry Committee on Thursday. Replacing the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme, it will have a €3.79 billion budget for 2014-2020. Its data will serve many purposes, including monitoring climate change and protecting public security.

The 'EU-Russia Year of Science 2014' will be officially launched at an event in Moscow on November 25. Its purpose is to celebrate and promote the vibrant and multifaceted scientific and technological cooperation between the two partners. In the course of twelve months, a rich programme of events and initiatives across Russia and the EU will highlight joint achievements, successes, and the strong potential for future cooperation in research, innovation and higher education. Involving scientists, research organisations, innovators, enterprises and the wider public, the EU-Russia Year of Science will build on the longstanding and fruitful cooperation between the EU and Russia in this area.