A new opportunity to shape the future of science and technology through interdisciplinary collaboration comes from the 2024 Open Call for new COST Action proposals.
The call is set to close on October 23, 2024, at 12.00 (noon) CEST.

COST Actions provide a gateway for dynamic research networks, spanning all scientific and technological domains, including emerging fields. With a bottom-up approach, individuals can propose networks aligned with their interests and ideas.

Funding for COST Actions supports various activities, from networking events to scientific missions and communication efforts. In its inaugural year, a COST Action can access up to €125,000, with an average of €150,000 annually for subsequent years.

These initiatives facilitate collaboration among experts worldwide, fostering professional growth and career advancement.

The Italian ‘Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” – a FS4EU Supporting partner since 2022 – has announced a selection for master’s degree graduates in chemical disciplines for the creation of a list of eligible young candidates (< 32 years) to be involved in research projects.

The activities will mainly focus on the development of innovative methods and monitoring related to various contaminants (pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, metals, mycotoxins, veterinary drugs, allergens, biotoxins, etc.) in food, feed, and environmental matrices. The techniques to be used may vary but predominantly will involve liquid or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The annual gross amount of the scholarship is 25,000 euros.

To apply, visit the following link: https://trasparenza.izsum.it//archivio22_bandi-di-concorso_0_118_0_1.html

Deadline for submitting applications: 16 February 2024.

INRAE is going to recruit: a permanent position will be opened for a Research fellow in the area of Microbiological Food Safety and Risk Assessment.
The PhD candidate will join the “Food Safety and Microbiology” unit (SECALIM) at INRAE, located in Nantes, France.
The fellow will be involved in scientific subjects with societal implications, and international projects, in a dynamic and fulfilling working environment, supported by a senior scientist.   

Click here for Job Application, opening on January 30, 2024
Deadline: March 5, 2024

The EU Food Safety Platform powers the EU Food Safety Systems of the Future!
INRAE is a FS4EU platform Supporting Partner since 2021.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has published the “Early warning tools and systems for emerging issues in food safety” report.

The technical report raises awareness of evidence-based innovative digital tools, providing essential background information to support their proactive use in food safety.

Early warning (EW) systems play a crucial role in mitigating food safety risks. Recognizing the importance of timely identification, national and international authorities now prioritize proactive systems.

Modern technologies, fueled by real-time data and advancements in AI and machine learning, offer tested digital tools for effective food safety early warning.

The call for the Selection of hosting sites and fellows for EFSA’s European Food Risk Assessment Fellowship (EU-FORA) Programme (EUBA-EFSA-2023-ENREL-01) is open.

In a strategic move to enhance preparedness for future risk analysis requirements, EFSA promotes the European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) Fellowship Programme as a unique initiative, aiming at expanding the frame of experts specializing in food safety risk assessment in Europe. By encouraging active participation from research organizations as host organizations, the EU-FORA Fellowship Programme strives to foster a culture dedicated to comprehensive risk assessment, by involving young researchers in a dynamic training and research work programme.
Deadline for application: 14 March 2024
Find out the call information here!

The European Commission adopted the 2024 Work Programme of the European Innovation Council, with funding opportunities worth over €1.2 billion for strategic technologies and scaling up companies.

The EIC Work Programme 2024 details the funding in three main schemes:

  • EIC Pathfinder (€256 million) for multi-disciplinary research teams to undertake visionary research with the potential to lead to technology breakthroughs (grants up to €4 million).

  • EIC Transition (€94 million) to turn research results into innovation opportunities, following up on results generated by EIC Pathfinder projects, European Research Council Proof of Concept projects and open for the first time to project results from Horizon collaborative projects from Pillar 2/ societal challenges (grants up to €2.5 million).

  • EIC Accelerator (€675 million) for start-ups and SMEs to develop and scale up innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones (grants below €2.5 million, investments from €0.5 to €15 million). €405 million is earmarked for investments to be managed by the EIC Fund, which will receive an additional €180 million to follow on investments in companies selected under previous EIC Accelerator calls.

All the projects supported by the European Innovation Council have access to Business Acceleration Services, which provide coaches, mentors and expertise, and partnering opportunities.
The Work Programme can support and boost innovation in Food Safety.

A groundbreaking article has been published delving into the intricate landscape of European food safety research funding.

Authored by Tamara Stelzl, Nastasia Belc, Nunzia Cito, Jana Hajslova, Sophie Scheibenzuber, and Michael Rychlik, this publication offers a compelling exploration of critical issues shaping the future of food safety research.
It provides an in-depth exploration of the opacity and fragmentation present in food safety research funding and organizational structures across the European research area. Interviews with funding bodies from six European countries formed the basis of the investigation, aiming to assess key issues related to research funding in general and food safety in particular. By engaging funding experts to collaboratively address challenges identified during the interviews, the consultation process revealed invaluable insights into the issues encountered, such as inadequate call management staff and insufficient research funds.
The culmination of the research is a set of actionable recommendations to address the identified issues and improve the food safety research funding landscape. The findings emphasize the importance of a concerted effort to align and harmonize funding strategies at the European level, promoting a more integrated and effective approach to ensure global food safety.

The research work has been conducted during the implementation of the FoodSafety4EU project FSOLab 3 dedicated to exploring the Alignment of European Food Safety Research by simplification of funding processes.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22979