Monitoring the development of SSH as a cross cutting issue is a commitment made under the Horizon 2020 Programme. To do that, a variety of dimensions are examined, such as budget going to SSH partners (overall and per Work Programme part), qualitative aspects, performance of disciplines and sectors involved and countries participating both as participants and coordinators. A novelty introduced in this year’s report is a number of new chapters summarising the results for both pillar 1 (European Research Council (ERC), Maria Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and Research infrastructures (RI), as well as Future Emerging Technologies (FET)) and 2 (Societal Challenges) of the programme regarding SSH and inter-disciplinarity. The scope of the report has therefore gradually been extended: ERC data is available since last year’s edition and since this year MSCA, RI, and FET are also covered, while developing a methodology best suited to look at these findings in a meaningful way. This fourth Monitoring Report on Integration of SSH across Horizon 2020 shows that on many aspects progress has been made since the start of the programme. However, it also illustrates that more efforts are needed to get the results strived for in this policy area. Altogether the quantitative data presented by this publication indicate how well the policy of SSH Integration is being followed up in practice. But it is by no means a report that tells the full story of SSH Integration as part of the overall framework programme.

The bio-based sector is amongst the most thriving sectors in the European bioeconomy. Industry players in this sector use biological resources (including residues and waste) to make innovative greener value added products. This nascent sector is somehow still small compared to more traditional ones but it is undergoing rapid developments. Developing and commercialising innovative bio-based products – would they be new product types or aim to replace fossil-based equivalents - demand pursued Research & Innovation efforts and is influenced by a certain number of critical factors such as access to finance, market developments (including oil prices), feedstock availability or the regulatory framework (including climate action). To progress from the initial concept to a commercial product is thus a journey with many steps and challenges. The aim of this study report is to analyse this journey – which was successful – for 15 EU innovative bio-based products. These 15 success stories deliver on at least one of three following success criteria: profitability, market entry or mobilisation of critical external finance. The 15 success stories span over nine EU Member States, and cover a wide range of products and technologies, most of which have been on the market for only a few years. Two-fifths of these products were developed by large companies, an equal amount by SMEs, and one fifth by micro-enterprises. In two-thirds of the companies, bio-based activities are at the core of their business. Each success story is presented within the report in a factsheet, which provides detailed information about it as well as insights on its drivers of success and on how it responded to risks it faced.

This report summarises the presentations and discussion of the Workshop on “The Brain – A New Approach to Brain Diseases” held on 21 November, 2018 at the European Parliament. The purpose of the workshop was to highlight current and new approaches to the treatment of brain diseases, including diagnosis and rehabilitation. The panel of expert speakers addressed both clinical and policy issues and highlighted the need for dialogue and co-operation between scientists, industry and society.

This report supports the implementation of the European Commission’s Recommendation on a definition of nanomaterial (2011/696/EU). It addresses its key concepts and terms and discusses them in a regulatory context. Corresponding to the broad scope of the definition the considerations in this report can be applied across all relevant legislative areas; they are not specific to any particular piece of legislation. The report provides recommendations for a harmonised and coherent implementation of the nanomaterial definition in any specific regulatory context at European Union and national level.

This new OECD report on the ocean economy emphasises the growing importance of science and technologies in improving the sustainable economic development of our seas and ocean. Marine ecosystems sit at the heart of many of the world’s global challenges: food, medicines, new sources of clean energy, climate regulation, job creation and inclusive growth. But we need to safeguard and improve the health of marine ecosystems to support our ever-growing use of marine resources. Innovation in science and technology will play a key role in reconciling these two objectives. This report identifies three priority areas for action based on a number of in-depth case studies: 1) approaches that produce win-win outcomes for ocean business and the ocean environment across a range of marine and maritime applications; 2) the creation of ocean-economy innovation networks; and 3) new pioneering initiatives to improve measurement of the ocean economy.

This report is the first in a new series from WIPO tracking the development of technologies through the analysis of data on innovation activities. It reveals trends in patenting of artificial intelligence (AI) innovations, the top players in AI from industry and academia, and the geographical distribution of AI-related patent protection and scientific publications. Its findings are accompanied throughout by commentary and industry perspectives from more than 20 of the world’s leading experts in AI, making it of particular interest to business leaders, researchers and policymakers.