Maria da Graca Carvalho received this week a group of 29 Portuguese visitors composed of members of Governing Bodies of Higher Education, Vice Chancellors and Professors and university and business representatives in the field of Science and Innovation.
The purpose of the visit is to attend the hearing organized by the European People's Party (EPP) on the report "Simplification of the Rules of Participation of current and future European Programmes for Science and Innovation", authored by Maria da Graca Carvalho. Visitors also have the opportunity to attend the meeting of the ITRE Committee, which will discuss this report for the last time before its next vote on this Committee on September 30.
The hearing and meeting in the ITRE Committee on the report conclude the consultation process begun by MEP since her appointment as rapporteur in May this year. The aim was to hear the point of view of the the various partners, universities, research centres and companies and to discuss the major rules of participation in European Programmes for Science and Innovation.
Maria da Graca Carvalho's report will redefine the rules of participation in European Programmes for Science and Innovation, not only in the Research Framework Programme (52 billion euros), but in all other programs of Science and Innovation. The goal is to facilitate participation rates and raise implementation rates. Presently the rules are very complex. This report lays down the principles that will govern participation in current and future programs after 2013.