Innovation At The Heart of NextGenerationEU

The K4I Forum invites you to attend the EIA online event series: Innovation At The Heart of NextGenerationEU

“The NextGenerationEU is more than a recovery plan. It is a once in a lifetime chance to emerge stronger from the pandemic, transform European economies, create opportunities and jobs. We can make this happen. We have the vision, we have the plan, and we have agreed to invest 750 billion euros together. It is now time to get to work, to make Europe greener, more digital, and more resilient.” (Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission).

Next generation Innovations and new technologies are major drivers behind the NextGenerationEU. It is clear that the EU finds itself in a pivotal moment. Now is the time to get to work, to make Europe greener, more digital, and more resilient. Wherever they are in Europe, all innovators and entrepreneurs must be empowered to realize their full potential, for they are the active force powering the wave of the green industrial revolution. The NextGenerationEU fund needs to support ambitious innovation projects in various industrial ecosystems, in healthcare, for a sustainable food provision, the generation of green energy and clean mobility. The projects being funded are needed to secure a sustainable future for the planet and people. 

Agenda 

• Welcome by Maria da Graça Carvalho, MEP, Chair of the K4I Forum
• Keynote video message by Minister Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal
• Keynote by Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth

National Action Plans – Driving the Green Transition – Innovation at the Heart of NGEU

• Representative of the Slovenian government: 

• Andrej Čuš, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology

• Welcome by Franc Bogovic, MEP

Mr Andrej Čuš was born on July 29, 1990 in Maribor. In March 2021, he was appointed as a State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Slovenia. At the Ministry, he covers the portfolio of green economy and green transition.

He has a Master’s degree in Intercultural Management from the Faculty of Applied Social Studies, University of Nova Gorica. He is currently undertaking his PhD studies.

He was an alternate member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia in february 2013, where he served as an expert associate prior to that.

In 2014, he was re-elected in the parliamentary general elections. In his mandate, he focused on the areas of sustainable development, green technologies, youth initiatives and coherent regional development.

From 2014 to 2018 he gained experience in the business sector, as an entrepreneur and was a member of the Supervisory Board of Public Services Ptuj, Ltd..

In addition to his professional career, Mr Čuš has been very active in youth politics and holds national and international medals in judo.

• Representative of the Finnish Government

• Maria Kaisa Aula, State Secretary, Ministry of Finance

Ms. Maria Kaisa Aula (born 1962) has a long career in parliament, government and civil service since early 1990´s.  She has worked in the fields of economic policy, human rights and child and family policies.  She is Licentiate of Political Science by education.

In June 2019 she began her recent work as the State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Before that she worked as a Program Director in the Ministry of Social and Health Affairs. reforming the social-, health and education services towards more child and family centered approach. During 2005 – 2014 she acted as the first Ombudsman for Children in Finland.

She was elected Member of Parliament 1991 – 2003 from the Center Party and acted four years as the chair of budget committee. 

She is active in the NGO field, too. Since 2014 she has been the president of the Family Federation of Finland. 

She is a mother of two teenagers and lives in Middle Finland, Viitasaari.

• Representative of the Italian Government

• Michele Quaroni, Ambassador — Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy

Ambassador Michele Quaroni is the Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy. Prior he was the Diplomatic Advisor of the Minister of the Economy and Finance – Rome. He started his diplomatic career in 1991 with dutuies in the US and Russia among other places.

• Representatives of the Spanish Government

• Teresa Riesgo Alcaide, Secretary General for Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Science and Innovation 

Teresa Riesgo holds a PhD in Electronic Engineering from the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) where she is Full Professor of Electronics since 2003. In 2018 she joined Minister Duque’s team at the Ministry of Science and Innovation where she is now the Secretary General of Innovation.

• Javier Ponce Martinez, Director General, Centro de desarrollo tecnológico e industrial (CDTI)
• Representative of the Latvian Government
• Dmitrijs Stepanovs, Deputy State Secretary for the Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Education and Science
• Representative of the Romanian Government

• Prof. Dragoş Mihael Ciuparu, Secretary of State for Research, Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization

He is registered as a participant

Prof. Dragoş Mihael Ciuparu is a chemical engineer by training with a Ph.D. from the University of Paris 7 “Denis Diderot”. He spent almost 7 years with the Department of Chemical Engineering at Yale University, first as a post-doctoral fellow, and later as Research Scientist. At the end of 2005 he returned to the Petroleum – Gas University of Ploieşti, Romania, establishing a new research group and obtaining the title of professor. Prof. Ciuparu has published over 70 peer reviewed papers, coauthored 3 technical books, and holds 5 US patents.

Prof. Ciuparu’s involvement in public administration and policymaking started as a member of the Presidential Commission for Education and Research Policy, widely credited with contributing to the jumpstart of the sectoral reform process in Romania, and of the National Council for Scientific Research. Between 2010 and 2012 he was President of the National Authority for Scientific Research, managing all policymaking and competitive research funding programs in Romania. Starting with January 2020 he was appointed Secretary of State for research within Ministry of Education and Research and from June 2021, he was appointed Secretary of State for research within the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization. 

• Representative of the Belgium Government
• Thomas Dermine, State Secretary for Economic Recovery and Strategic Investment
• Representative of the Austrian Government

• Brigitte Weiss: Head of Unit for International Technology Policy and Programs, Directorate General Innovation and Technology, Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology

Head of Unit for International Technology Policy and Programs, Directorate General Innovation and Technology

Responsible for the steering of EU- and international affairs of the Directorate General: Framework Program Horizon Europe, European Research Area, EU Missions and R&I Partnerships, IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest), COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)

6/2006 – 1/2012: European Commission, Directorate General Innovation and Technology, Unit Research Infrastructure, in charge of the sector Energy and Engineering

1996 – 5/2006: Unit Energy- and Environmental Technologies in charge of programs “Building for Tomorrow”, “Factory for Tomorrow”, circular economy, bio-economy, sustainable energy

• Representative of the French Government
• Benjamin Delozier, Head of Innovation and Enterprise Development, French Finance Ministry 
• Input from representatives of other European Member States

Responses by Members of the European Parliament

Questions from Stakeholders

Closing Remarks, Maria da Graça Carvalho, MEP, Chair of the K4I Forum