On July 8, 2015, The European Institute held a breakfast discussion with Dr. Vladimir Šucha, Director-General of the EU Joint Research Committee.  Dr. Šucha highlighted the challenges of effectively integrating scientific evidence into policy-making.  He emphasized the need for evidence-based policy making and the importance that trust, timing, and finding the right formulation of both formal and informal advice play in encouraging effective and timely cooperation between scientists and policy-makers.  Dr. Šucha also encouraged a more holistic approach to societal challenges and thinking outside the box in order to formulate effective policies for a more complex, interconnected and accelerated world.

On January 10, 2014, The European Institute in cooperation with the Embassy of Italy hosted a luncheon discussion with The Honorable Maria Chiara Carrozza, Italian Minister for Education, Universities and Research.  Minister Carrozza discussed the vital importance of furthering transatlantic research and innovation cooperation and of strengthening the European Science and Technology Union. During Italy’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, she said, priority will be given to ensuring continuity in the implementation of the European Union’s ambitious Horizon 2020 initiative. Michael Nelson, Principal Technology Policy Strategist at Microsoft moderated the discussion.

Click here to read Minister Carrozza's remarks.

On October 2, 2013, The European Institute, in cooperation with the Embassy of Belgium, hosted Michela Ritando, International Tax Expert in the Fiscal Department for Foreign Investments at the Federal Public Service Finance of Belgium, for a special meeting to discuss the pivotal role of R&D tax incentives in fostering jobs and growth, especially in this time of economic recovery. Ms. Ritando provided a comprehensive overview of the wide range of tax incentive programs that contribute to Belgium’s growing research and innovation sectors. The discussion was moderated by Stephen Ezell, Senior Analyst at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

On September 12, 2013, The European Institute held a breakfast discussion with Maria Cristina Russo, Director for International Cooperation, DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission. Newly appointed to her position, Ms. Russo discussed the Horizon 2020 program and emphasized the need for the European Union and the United States to work together on shared research and innovation challenges. The Honorable Bart Gordon, Partner at K&L Gates LLP moderated the discussion.

Ms. Russo's remarks can be found here.

On April 30, 2013, The European Institute held a seminar in cooperation with the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe to examine the challenges and opportunities for transatlantic cooperation in multilateral governance, in monetary, trade and investment policy, and in medical science research and innovation. Speakers included: The Honorable José Maria Gil-Robles, President, The Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe & former President of the European Parliament; François Rivasseau, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States; Ambassador Ioannis Vrailas, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations; Ambassador Kurt Volker, Executive Director, McCain Institute for International Leadership, Arizona State University & former U.S. Ambassador to NATO; Antonio de Lecea, Principal Advisor, Delegation of the European Union to the United States; Mark Sobel, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Monetary and Financial Policy, U.S. Department of the Treasury; Michael Smart, Vice President, Rock Creek Global Advisors LLC; James Mendenhall, Counsel, International Trade & Dispute Resolution Group, Sidley Austin LLP; The Honorable Bart Gordon, Partner, K&L Gates & Former Chairman, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology; The Honorable Chaka Fattah, Member, Committee on Appropriations & Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science & Related Agencies, U.S. House of Representatives; Dr. James Gavigan, Minister-Counselor & Head of the Science, Technology & Education Section, Delegation of the European Union; Professor Henry Markram, Founder & Director, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Brain Mind Institute & Coordinator, Human Brain Project; and Dr. Adrian Ivinson, Director, Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, Harvard University Medical School.