EU Science, Research and Innovation

Small Modular Reactors have the potential to help decarbonise EU energy – but what are they, and how do they work? Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are the most innovative energy technology in nuclear power. Their compact size and modular structure make them easier to produce, transport and install. Currently, 19 countries worldwide are developing SMR technology designs, including 7 EU countries. Our scientists assess these technologies and their application on various criteria, including safety and security, affordability, waste minimisation and their potential contribution to EU policy goals. Swipe ➡️ to find out more about SMRs and the work of our researchers.  

Droughts and heatwaves threaten South America’s water resources 👇 Due to record-breaking heatwaves and reduced rainfall, the region is under drought conditions. Rivers in major basins, including the Amazon and La Plata, are at alarmingly low levels. Ecosystems, agriculture, and energy production are at risk, calling for urgent action. These findings are based on the latest analysis from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). The scientists used data from the European and Global Drought Observatories, which are part of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. Information from other climate and drought monitoring tools has been used too.    Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/euF5FxBW 

What if the next groundbreaking #science discovery stemmed from a child's wish? Sounds exciting, right? That's why we asked kids what they want scientists to discover in 2025 - and their answers are nothing short of inspiring 💡 From self-tying shoelaces to saving gorillas, their ideas are filled with innovation, hope and curiosity. May their dreams ignite the spark of inspiration for researchers to turn some of these wishes into reality!

EU-based companies grew investment in research and development by 9.8% in 2023, surpassing growth in the US, China, and Japan!  That is just one of the insights from the 2024 Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard.   Published since 2004, the Scoreboard brings economic information from the latest financial accounts of the world's top 2000 R&D investors, and an extended sample of the top 800 companies based in the EU.       Here are more highlights:  ➡️ The EU accounts for 18.7% of global R&D investment, second only to the US.  ➡️ 11 EU companies are in the global top 50 R&D investors, with Europe leading in automotive innovation.  ➡️ EU leads R&D investments in automotive, and EU-based global players are making significant advancements in ICT and health.  While challenges remain, the EU’s robust innovation ecosystem provides a solid foundation for long-term competitiveness. To boost Europe’s position in the global landscape, it will be essential to accelerate R&D investments and foster innovation. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eBKtTrDC

Why do people decide to migrate? 🌍 Today is International Migrants Day and our latest edition of the Atlas of Migration is out! It includes data on migration for 198 countries worldwide, and information on the diverse factors influencing people’s decision to move. Our researchers grouped migration drivers into eight dimensions: demographic, economic, environmental, socio-cultural, political, security, human development and supranational. But the reasons behind migration are rarely straightforward, multiple factors related to origin and destination countries as well as personal ambitions shape the nature and dynamics of migration. Our Atlas uses residence permits data to understand why people move to EU countries. ⬇️ Data can help us understand better the proportions and dynamics of migratory movements, beyond myths and stereotypes. Read more here https://europa.eu/!h8vJCd #InternationalMigrantsDay

This week, EU representatives participated in the 11th Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Plenary to address pressing global challenges, including biodiversity loss, worsened by climate change and pollution.   A significant outcome of the #IPBES11 session was the adoption of two key assessment reports — the Nexus Assessment and Transformative Change — underlying causes of the water, food, health, biodiversity, and climate change crisis, uncovering synergies and opportunities, and offering concrete, coherent and coordinated approaches. As one of the leading supporters of IPBES, the EU committed €9 million to its Trust Fund (2019-2028), leveraging our research & innovation budget to drive impactful EU-funded projects on these fields.   Check out our article to learn more about how the EU contributes to IPBES ⤵️ IPBES, European Research Council (ERC), European Research Executive Agency (REA), EU Environment and Climate

Are you aware of the potential of geothermal energy? It’s extracted from the Earth’s crust and a virtually unlimited source of renewable energy. Geothermal energy is versatile, reliable and does not depend on weather patterns. As such, it can potentially play a big role in making the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.  Today, the Ministers in the Energy Council of the European Union have adopted conclusions on geothermal energy. They are asking the Commission to not only continue, but increase research and innovation in this field, including through Horizon Europe and the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan.  The EU has supported geothermal technologies since the 1970s. From exploration to drilling, read our article to learn more about the geothermal energy projects the EU funds. 

EU-funded researchers are unlocking the secrets of the human eye, creating cutting-edge digital eye models that are transforming the quality of eye surgery and patients’ lives. They are using more innovative methods that can make eye surgery safer and more accurate, by faithfully mimicking interactions between the eye’s biomechanical properties and optics. The use of tailored surgical solutions based on specific anatomical characteristics of a patient’s eye allows them to ensure a much better outcome. Discover more about these efforts ➡️ europa.eu/!7CbQpt #ResearchImpactEU #HorizonMagazine EU Health and Food Safety

We are hiring 17 researchers and administrators. See all vacancies ⤵️ #EUScienceJobs 1.  IT Support and Infrastructure expert Geel, Belgium Deadline: January 6 https://europa.eu/!bWCTq8 2. Programme Officer - Scientific Development Programmes Ispra, Italy January 8 https://europa.eu/!76rthd 3. Vehicle Safety Researcher Ispra, Italy January 8 https://europa.eu/!jYKHyY 4. Economic and Policy Analyst - Regional, Urban and Rural Development Ispra, Italy January 9 https://europa.eu/!Ndf6Rm 5. Territorial Data Analyst and Modeller Ispra, Italy January 9 https://europa.eu/!NKwh6q 6. IT Security Officer for the European Centre of Algorithmic Transparency Seville, Spain January 10 https://europa.eu/!6mYKJ8 7. 2 Policy Analysts - Citizen Engagement Ispra, Italy January 10 - https://europa.eu/!vjyNj3 - https://europa.eu/!qv3CFc 8. Researcher - Detection of microplastics in complex matrices Ispra, Italy January 10 https://europa.eu/!fqcmYY 9. Secretary to the Head of Unit Karlsruhe, Germany January 12 https://europa.eu/!xfD4MW 10.  Laboratory Technician / Technical Assistant (Sustainable Transport) Ispra, Italy January 13 https://europa.eu/!tYJNQp 11.  Research Engineer (AI) Ispra, Italy January 13 https://europa.eu/!WT9jjH 12.  Project Officer - Electronic Seals (Nuclear Safety and Security) Ispra, Italy January 15 https://europa.eu/!89Qb9y 13.  Project Officer - Biomedical Science (Toxicology) Ispra, Italy January 15 https://europa.eu/!gXhyjw 14.  Applied Economist/Data Analyst Seville, Spain January 15 https://europa.eu/!kwMhBF 15.  Laboratory Technician (Nuclear Safety and Security) Petten, The Netherlands January 20 https://europa.eu/!wd9N8C 16.  Finance and Contracts Assistant - Contract Manager Ispra, Italy January 20 https://europa.eu/!RKbwRC 17.  Technical Officer - Scientific Research (Nuclear Safety and Security) Petten, The Netherlands February 8 https://europa.eu/!XYhNwP EU Careers by EPSO #EUCareers #TechJobs #ResearchJobs

Is social media making young people lonely? That's what our scientists wanted to understand in the first-ever pan-European study on social media use and loneliness. They found that the key factor in whether social media has an effect on loneliness is the type of engagement and not just the time spent on it. In other words, “how” young Europeans use social media may be associated with loneliness more than “how much time” they spend online. Read more about it: https://europa.eu/!YXDvdy