Alliance4Life Receives Funding for the Next Three Years

The Alliance4Life life science alliance, which unites 10 European research institutions including Vilnius University, received EUR 2 million in funding this year for implementation of the A4L_ACTIONS Horizon 2020 project.

The new A4L_ACTIONS project aims to close Europe’s research and innovation gap in the field of life sciences, improve institutional project management culture, and inspire research policy reforms in Central and Eastern Europe. During the project, the strategies developed in the first phase of the project will be implemented and the identified good practices will be applied. Project activities will continue for three years.

A4L_ACTIONS is the continuation of the successfully implemented Alliance4Life project. The activities of the Alliance were officially formalised upon signing a Memorandum of Understanding at Vilnius University in October 2019. It was agreed that members would cooperate in initiating new international projects with advanced partners and industry. Considerable attention will be paid to the career development of researchers, the nurturing of talent, and scientific networking. The Alliance brings together advanced life science institutions from Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia and Hungary. Research and higher education institutions in Bulgaria and Romania will also join the activities in 2021.

The alliance’s core mission is to support and strengthen European research potential and the impact of scientific research on society, human health and quality of life by closing the health research and innovation gap between European countries.

The Alliance contributes to science policy and shapes research priorities at national and EU levels by making suggestions on how to increase participation in the Horizon programme.

Alliance4Life has therefore released a new official position paper this year with recommendations for specific actions to expand Horizon. The document formulates suggestions to the European Commission, national delegations of Horizon Europe and other stakeholders involved in the EU research and innovation policy, which should be taken into account in future calls for specific Horizon WIDENING programmes (Teaming, Twinning and ERA chairs).