Cristina Russo, Director for International Cooperation of the European Commission visits the UAB
10/02/2017
Russo offered a conference entitled “European International Cooperation, Open to the World” at the auditorium (Sala d'Actes) of the Rectorat building. The conference began at 9 a.m. and included the participation of Màrius Martínez, Vice Rector for International Relations; Delphine Borione, Deputy Secretary General of Union for the Mediterranean; David Rovirosa, from ACCIÓ, Generalitat de Catalunya; Francesc Subirada, General Director of Research of the Government of Catalonia; and Maria Teresa Díez Iturrioz, from the Spanish Ministry for Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. The conference was followed by a debate with the audience.
Maria Cristina Russo studied Political Science at the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli of Rome and is Director for International Cooperation of the Directorate General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission since July 2013. She is responsible for promoting research and innovation within international cooperation among member states with the aim of strengthening the scientific excellence and attractiveness of the EU and boosting its industrial competitiveness, taking on global social challenges and giving support to EU's external policies, including trade, development and growth.
The project Quintuple Helix Approach to Targeted Open Innovation in Energy, Water and Agriculture in the South Mediterranean Neighborhood (5TOI_4EWAS), coordinated by UAB Department of Chemistry lecturer Manuel Valiente, will contribute to building bridges between innovation and technology, as well as opening new markets in the food, energy and water management sectors. The aims of the project are to improve the interrelations between food, energy and water management thanks to a balanced and innovation-friendly ecosystem among all countries of the Mediterranean; concentrate efforts and interests of innovators through a joint action plan serving as a scientific and diplomatic tool with which to give support to a policy of bilateral talks between research and innovation; and contribute to improving access for researchers in southern Mediterranean countries to scientific excellence by offering capacity-generating activities. These actions aim to make large scientific facilities and important laboratories accessible through the development of research and entrepreneurial activities throughout the southern Mediterranean region, thus increasing their participation in research in Europe. The project, led by the UAB, includes a total of 24 institutions from Italy, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Algeria, Macau, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and Libya.