ICRI 2018 Research infrastructures are among the core enablers of competitive research alongside basic science, development and innovation to advance the frontiers of our knowledge. These research infrastructures are often operated by international consortia and are applicable in various disciplines and stakeholder communities. Research infrastructures are constantly under pressure to adapt due to the advancements in science, research and technology. All these aspects underline the importance of research infrastructures but at the same time demonstrate the challenges and the complexity that occur within the construction, implementation, operation, funding and international cooperation. This calls for an exchange and discussion on an international level regarding topics such as governance, operations and the general policy area for research infrastructures. Respecting the need for international attention to the aforementioned policy area, the ECRI was vital towards establishing a conference format that can lead a new millennium onwards. Subsequently, the focus was widened to an international level (ICRI). The overall objective of this proposal is to organize and further establish this dynamic international forum on research infrastructures (ICRI), under the 2018 Austrian EU Council Presidency. The ICRI will gather relevant experts, shareholders and stakeholder communities of research infrastructures to discuss challenges and emerging trends for research infrastructures around the world. The specific objectives of the proposed action are as follows: - Addressing issues of global interest Development of global research infrastructures Long-term sustainability Innovation potential of research infrastructures Access and exploitation of data produced by research infrastructures - Enhancement of international cooperation - Promotion of Europe’s further strategic outline on research infrastructures - ESFRI Roadmap 2018.

The purpose of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions / MSCA is to bring together organisations such as Universities, SMEs (small/medium enterprises), public and private (non-commercial) research centres, non-profit organisations etc. in order to train early-stage researchers in professional environments. MSCA • Encourage researchers to explore multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary avenues in responding to current and future challenges; • Enhance researchers’ career prospects and exposure to both academic and non-academic fields, through international and intersectoral mobility; • Convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit; • Provide researchers with a set of transferrable skills for the purpose of innovation and long-term employability. Better preparation for work in business, industry and the public and private sectors, effectively moving away from the focus of research as being purely academically centred can be attained. MSCA celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2016. The past 20 years have shown how flexible these actions were adapted to current demands and needs of researchers and the research community. While the focus on the research theme and the project is prevailing the career development scheme has a strong meaning. The work programme for the last three years of Horizon 2020 and therefore MSCA was adopted; the next two years will be implemented as up to now. The third and last year will be depending on the discussions on the next Framework Programme and underline the expected transition period and therefore relevant projects helping to change from one scheme to the other. The draft of the next Framework Programme is expected to be released in May 2018 and will subsequently be one of the priorities during the Austrian Council Presidency. This gives the opportunity to discuss the draft and to gather input from different stakeholders relevant to the process and to the scientific and research community.

The objective of EEPLIANT 2014 (Energy Efficiency Compliant Products 2014) is to help deliver the intended economic and environmental benefits of the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC and the Energy Labelling Directive 2010/30/EU by strengthening market surveillance and increasing compliance with the Directives and the relevant implementing measures. EEPLIANT 2014 will achieve this by: -Implementing systems that coordinate, in the most cost-effective manner, the monitoring, verification and enforcement of ecodesign and energy labelling requirements across the European Single Market; -Increasing the adoption of best practice amongst Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs). The Consortium (13 MSAs and PROSAFE) will design, carry out and evaluate coordinated market surveillance actions across three different product sectors over the next two years. It will deliver a higher level of surveillance activities that go beyond testing and will target products that represent the highest energy saving potential. The consortium will work closely with other non-participating MSAs across the EEA through its liaison with the Energy Labelling and the Ecodesign ADCOs. Additionally, the Consortium will work together with a Steering Board comprising of business, consumer organisations and environmental NGOs to draw on their knowledge and experience and to communicate through them with all stakeholders about the progress and results of the project. The expected results are: -Adoption by Member States of best practices on how to conduct market surveillance most effectively. -Greater compliance due to increased market surveillance of products in the EEA with the Implementing Measures of the Energy Labelling and Ecodesign Directives. -Increased awareness of (and respect for) market surveillance by industry and amongst users. -Market surveillance being undertaken in a more cost effective and consistent manner across the EEA with an overall greater impact in the product sectors investigated.

HDHL-INTIMIC (INtesTInal MICrobiomics) is a proposal for an ERA-NET Cofund in the field of food, nutrition and health to support the Joint Programming Initiative "A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life" (JPI HDHL). There is a high burden of non-communicable diseases due to unhealthy diet and lifestyle patterns. The intestine and in particular the intestinal microbiota have an influence on metabolic processes, thereby contributing to the development of lifestyle-related diseases. The 26 members of the JPI HDHL are working together to develop means to (1) motivate people to adopt healthier lifestyles including dietary choices and physical activity, (2) develop and produce healthy, high-quality, safe and sustainable foods and (3) prevent diet-related diseases. Since 2012, JPI HDHL has implemented seven Joint Funding Actions (JFAs) with around 45 M€ national funding. In addition, the first ERA-NET Cofund under the umbrella of JPI HDHL, ERA-HDHL, has recently started, implementing an EC cofunded call on Biomarkers on Nutrition and Health with a committed budget of around 12 M€. Building on these achievements, HDHL-INTIMIC will now further enhance the collaboration between JPI member countries and between the JPI and the EC by providing a platform for implementing further JFAs that address the needs identified in the JPI HDHL Strategic Research Agenda. In particular, a transnational Knowledge Platform on the interrelation of diet, intestinal microbiomics and health will be implemented via an EC cofunded call and an additional JFA. For this, the JPI HDHL members countries have increased their financial commitments comparing to a previous JFA on a similar topic, including also new partners in these activities. Moreover, HDHL-INTIMIC will launch 1-2 other additional JFAs in line to fulfil JPI HDHL objectives.

ANTICSS objectives are (i) to assess and define "circumvention" in order to achieve a better product positioning in relation to EU Ecodesign and Energy labelling legislation and relevant harmonised standards; this includes clear delimitation from other effects to facilitate unambiguous public (media) communication; (ii) to collect, analyse and learn from cases of circum¬vention by literature research and dedicated expert interviews, as well as analysing existing EU Ecodesign and Energy labelling legislation and standardisation for possible loopholes. The potential relation between circumvention and "smart" products with specific embedded software will be also addressed. From these findings, conclusions how to better detecting and preventing future circumvention will be derived; (iii) to assess impacts 'if' and 'how much' energy consumption and/or functional performance modifications could be ascribed to circumvention by conducting appliance testing; (iv) to define alternative test procedures or check lists with the aim to by-pass any possible measurement circumvention; based on the results ANTICSS will ensure sustainability beyond the project life by (v) practical capacity building measures for key actors of market surveillance and test laboratories, (vi) supporting communication and collaboration platforms between major stakeholders and (vii) providing policy recommendations for policy makers and standardisation bodies to prevent future circumvention under EU Ecodesign and Energy labelling. ANTICSS will also provide reliability to manufacturers by specifying potentially vague legislation and standards which might be interpreted differently by market actors and some of them taking unfair advantages so far. By overall awareness raising on circumvention among stakeholders, ANTICSS will be supporting an effective EU legislation enforcement and thus increasing acceptance and trust of market actors and civil society into the Ecodesign and Energy labelling legislation.