EU competitiveness ministers to discuss the European Research and Innovation Action Plan in response to COVID-19
The EU competitiveness ministers will hold an informal video conference of ministers of research on Tuesday 7 April 2020. State Secretary Tuomo Puumala will represent Finland at the meeting on behalf of Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.
At the meeting, the ministers will discuss ways in which the European Research and Innovation Action Plan could respond to COVID-19 crisis. Presented by the Commission, the action plan is intended to bring the research and the health sectors closer together to allow quick access to research results.
Actions to be taken under the action plan for COVID-19 would be decided and implemented using normal funding mechanisms such as funding available from the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.
At the video conference, ministers will exchange views on the EU’s joint research and innovation efforts to diagnose and fight against the coronavirus. The ministers will also discuss measures to ensure the production capacity and financing of vaccines and other pharmacotherapies as well as short, medium and long-term research and innovation activities in the European Union.
The video conference will be held as an informal meeting under the Croatian Presidency.
In Finland, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Education and Culture are jointly responsible for EU research matters.
Inquiries:
Nina Alatalo, Adviser to Minister (EU and International Affairs), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7171
Venja Henningsen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7195
Timo Haapalehto, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 218
Saara Vihko, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture, tel. +358 295 330 005