An Information Day was held on the new EU HORIZON 2020 Framework Programme, a continuation of the EU FP7, on 17 January 2014 in the small conference hall of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
Over 60 researchers from the institutes of ANAS, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Education, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Azerbaijan, and representatives of the relevant departments of other ministries.
The InfoDay was opened by the welcoming remarks of Head of Foreign Relations Department of ANAS Dr. Gulam Babayev.
The presenter, Head of Foreign Relations and Innovations Department of the Cybernetics Institute, NCP ICT of the Framework Programme in Azerbaijan, Director of R.I.T.A. Dr. Tofig Babayev made a comprehensive and informative presentation of the EU HORIZON 2020 Framework Programme.
At the event information about EU and EECA collaboration projects which R.I.T.A. participates in was given as well. Dr. Tofig Babayev told about PICTURE projects main objectives, Work Groups and national experts’ participation in WG. Leaflets on Picture projects had been disseminated.

Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness.
Seen as a means to drive economic growth and create jobs, Horizon 2020 has the political backing of Europe’s leaders and the Members of the European Parliament. They agreed that research is an investment in our future and so put it at the heart of the EU’s blueprint for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and jobs.
By coupling research and innovation, Horizon 2020 is helping to achieve this with its emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. The goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.
Horizon 2020 is open to everyone, with a simple structure that reduces red tape and time so participants can focus on what is really important. This approach makes sure new projects get off the ground quickly – and achieve results faster.

They attended exhibition and networking meetings, including brokerage event organized in the framework of IDEALIST 2014 project. For participation in Face-2-face meetings 15 research groups from different organizations prepared and submitted 23 innovative project proposals. Proposals evoked great interest of foreign scientists and experts attending the Event. So 43 face-2-face meetings were organized with participation of members of Azerbaijan delegation. Meetings laid down the foundation of further cooperation and joint researches.

PICTURE's project second newsletter was released on June 2013. The newsletter contains:
* an editorial written by project's coordinator Ms. Svetlana Klessova;
* presentations of PICTURE findings and achievemenets during the last six months;
* presentations of important netwoking events organized by PICTURE project;
* introductions of two PICTURE partners: TuRENA and BELISA;
* main upcoming events for PICTURE project.

Year 2013 declared “Year of Information and Communications Technologies” in Azerbaijan

Please download the complete newsletter in pdf format.

PICTURE consortium intends to participate in the ICT 2013 - Create, Connect, Grow, in Vilnius on 6-8 November, 2013 - the main European Commission ICT devoted event in 2013.



More than 4000 researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, industry representatives, young people and politicians are expected in Vilnius.
The event will focus on Horizon 2020 - the EU's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation for 2014-2020.