Welcome back to The Insider. Today we’re focusing on the research assessment reform process that is underway in Europe, driven by the European Commission. This is an issue with major impact in the lives of researchers and research performing organizations alike. The Commission wants to reach an agreement before the summer but there are a lot of open issues still to work on.

So, to help us identifying the main issues at stake and go deeper in the discussion, we welcome Marta Agostinho, Executive Director of EU-Life (the alliance of independent research institutes in the life sciences) and its representative in the European Commission stakeholder group for the agreement on research assessment reform.

We’re also giving you a brief rundown of this week’s top headlines from our Morning Brief newsletter, highlighting the European Executive Research Agency’s statement on tackling gender inequalities, the EU Gender Equality Strategy for 2020-2024, the European Commission suspending cooperation with Russia on R&I, INESC’s statement supporting Ukrainian researchers and Ole Petter Ottersen, the President of the Karolinska Institute’s comments on the long-term consequences of European sanctions in Russia.

Here are some of the events coming up that you should keep an eye out for:

·       The European Regions for Smart Communities Summit 2022 will be the celebration of the success and achievements from cooperation across Smart Communities and an opportunity to mutually commit to share challenges and smart solutions. Click here to find out more about the agenda and how you can register.

·       The 6th International Hybrid Power Systems Workshop will take place in Madeira, Portugal in April, supported by INESC TEC. The main objective of the event is to discuss the challenges that arise with the integration of high shares of renewables into isolated/island power systems/micro-grids in combination with batteries/flywheels and conventional power generators. Find more information here.

·       Taking place 22 and 23 of March, the Copernicus and the Green Deal Online Workshop will present how Copernicus services can contribute to the achievement of the EU Green Deal policy objectives and support in the monitoring of progress. Register here.

·       To foster discussion about a role for science diplomacy in responding to the challenges and opportunities posed by emerging technologies, Science & Diplomacy is organizing a virtual event. Click here for more information.