European Union is granting €400 million to Pakistani researchers

Horizon 2020, European Union’s biggest research and innovation programme, is granting €400 million to aid Pakistani’s with their research work.

Pakistani researchers are doing top-notch work and at the same time getting world-wide recognition for it. Recently, a Pakistani researcher developed a software that can wipe you off the Internet. Another scientist developed a facial recognition tool that works in complete darkness as well. Needless to say that our people ae doing remarkably innovative work. To aid these researchers in achieving their goals, the European Union is giving away a grant of €400 million.

This announcement was made at the Horizon 2020 awareness seminar by the acting head of Delegation of European Union in Pakistan, Steafano Gatto. Horizon 2020 is EU’s biggest research and innovation programme with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs and discoveries by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. Back in 2014, Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) was declared as the Focal Organization for EU Research and Innovation Programme Horizon 2020.

The Horizon 2020 initiative is geared to not only provide funding but also guidance to new researchers. Their website takes you to a long list of areas of research having the detail description, the importance and future applications of the field. So if you don’t know which area to choose, head over there and their comprehensive compilation will definitely help you.

Moreover, the guide you through the funding process of your research work as well. Once you’ve found your partners and submitted your proposal, experts go through your application to determine whether your work is up to the mark. Needless to say that the selection process is very competitive. They have also given support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s). Any SME working in a country associated with Horizon 2020 can ask for grants on their innovation projects.

The Horizon 2020 event here was jointly organised by the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, Pakistan Science Foundation and the Karachi University. Several Pakistani representatives also spoke at the occasion highlighting the research work done by Pakistanis. They also specifically lauded the European Union’s effort in assisting our researchers. Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation Professor Dr M. Ashraf also informed the attendees of PSF’s. He stated that the institute was founded in 1973 and since its inception the department has been providing funding to the research institutions of Pakistan.

At this point, it should also be mentioned that Pakistan recently became CERN’s first Asian Associate Member. This position also opens a lot of avenues of success for Pakistan by creating awareness of science and research in the country.

News Source – The News