About Us

Subtitle

Introduction with vision & mission

Based on the currently very lively transnational co-operation of research funders in the Agri-food and biotechnology sector in numerous initiatives, the partners in GEH expect to further improve co-operation by joining forces of these initiatives under one “umbrella”, the GEH. The partners are convinced to intensify joint research funding in addition to accompanying measures to provide clear perspectives for researchers in Agri-food and biotechnology to find tailor-made support at the level of information, communication, networking and funding that best fits their needs.


 

15 currently active EU ERA-Net Cofunds and self-sustained initiative

 

29 co-ordination active and ended predecessor actions

 

1100+ Mio Euro funding

 

89 transnational calls

The aims of GEH are to:   

-  Continue to build on previous achievements and further enhance cross-sector collaborations between Agri-food and biotechnology ERA-Nets, through joint transnational funding of collaborative research projects

-  Valorise and implement joint activities supporting the market, regulatory  or societal uptake of results after the end of individual ERA-Nets - identify common research and innovation priorities, agreed upon by the participating national programmes, and address them via new joint calls

-  Preserve best practice and managerial competences

-  Contribute to the planning and complement the implementation of the new HEU Partnerships and Missions

-  Broaden the actions and impact of initiatives towards stakeholders and in terms of geographical coverage

-  Contribute to achieve the strategic goals of the SDGs, in particular zero hunger, industry innovation and infrastructure, responsible consumption and production, life on land, partnership for the goals, the farm2fork strategy and EU's Green Deal.

 

TARGET GROUPS  

The primary end-user of the results of GEH are the research communities in the Agri-food and biotechnology sector. They will directly benefit from the actions under the projects via funding, networking and other accompanying measures.

In longer term the Agri-food and biotechnology sector, in Europe and globally, will take up the results of the research supported under GEH, thus improving the vision of a bioeconomy, which provides healthy and ample food as well as a broadest possible range of industrial products based on renewable raw material in an eco-friendly manner.

Ultimately, society in Europe and the world will benefit from the impact generated by GEH’s activities in terms of more sustainable, secure, resilient and ecosystems friendly agricultural production systems.

 

OUTCOMES

On a first level, the partners in GEH expect a close cooperation of the relevant national research funders in Europe’s Agri-food and biotechnology sector and beyond. In the frame of this cooperation, a broad variety of dedicated measures for the benefit of the research communities will be conducted, well-proven (funding) instruments will be applied, and new instruments will be developed.

On a second level, the partners in GEH envisage a lively European research community in Agri-food and bio-technology closely interconnected in a dense network organised by the GEH, being prepared to respond to Agri-food and biotechnology relevant HEU Partnership/Mission opportunities coming up. Further, they expect a broad spectrum of excellent transnational research projects, which are jointly funded by the national funders engaged in GEH.

On a third level, improved scientific knowledge and innovation relevant for the Agri-food and biotechnology sector is expected, which will improve agricultural production available innovative technology for secure food supply AND for the production of biomass for an industry based on renewable raw material.

 

IMPACTS

Scientific, economic and societal effects:

The activities conducted under the GEH will strengthen the effectiveness of the Agri-food and biotechnology sector via concerted, transnational research and innovation.

This helps to optimise a sustainable, resilient and ecosystems friendly food supply and food security. It will also support the non-food biomass production to serve as a basis for a fossil feed stock independent bioeconomy supported by bio-technology.

Thus, GEH strongly supports important policy goals such as the SDGs and Europe’s Green Deal amongst others.

Impacts as outlined in the work programme

The GEH is tailored to address all impacts expected under destination 3 of the work programme “Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area” 2021 of Horizon Europe, relevant for its thematic remit.

These are mainly: i.) Reform and Enhance the EU R&D&I system; ii.) Prioritisation of investments; iii.) Improved access to excellence; iv.) Greater quality of the scientific production and stronger translation of R&D&I results into the economy; v.) Deepen the ERA; vi.) Coordinated national and regional R&D&I programmes by pooling national resources and contributing to the alignment of national research and innovation policies; vii.) Increased number of interconnected knowledge ecosystems, strong in knowledge creation, circulation and use; viii.) A more open and inclusive research and innovation system; ix.) Increased alignment of strategic research with society needs, expectations and values; x.) Improved capacities within the EU R&D&I system to conduct open science.