As a crucial element of IGLO activity, various Working Groups (WG) facilitate interaction, exchange of information and cooperation between IGLO Members, their national research systems and the European institutions on issues related to the EU research and innovation agenda.
Terms of Reference
- IGLO Core establishes and ceases WGs. WGs are restricted to topics within the remit of IGLO.
- WGs are open to all IGLO members. A maximum of two individuals per member organisation may attend WG meetings. WGs may further restrict participation, should this be appropriate, for a particular meeting or event (e.g. due to space limitations). Additional guests may join events and meetings by invitation.
- WGs may invite other external participants (e.g. external speakers, subject expert) to take part on an ad hoc basis.
- The members of WG choose the Chair / Co-Chairs of the WG amongst its IGLO Members.
- The Chair serves a term of one year and can be reappointed.
- The Chair plans WG meetings and leads the meetings. After each meeting, the Chair circulates information on key points and developments to those who attended.
- WGs report to the ‘IGLO Core’ group when requested.
Working Groups
There are currently nine active Working Groups:
- Digital
- Excellence
- Green topics
- Health
- Higher Education and Skills
- Implementation
- Innovation
- International Cooperation
- R&I on Security Topics
Digital
IGLO Digital Working Group (Digital WG) aims to provide a structured platform for IGLO members to discuss, share knowledge, and collaborate on digitalisation trends and their impact on EU research and innovation (R&I) policies. The group facilitates discussions on key digital topics within and beyond Horizon Europe, promotes knowledge exchange through engagement with experts, policymakers, and practitioners, and enhances policy awareness by keeping members informed about EU digital policy developments and their implications for R&I. It also fosters strategic networking opportunities between IGLO members and external stakeholders.
Contact:
Co-Chair Tadas Tumėnas, LINO (tadas.tumenas @ lmt.lt)
Co-Chair Ellenor Devine, SWERI (ellenor.devine @ vr.se)
Co-Chair Kamil Novak, SLORD (kamil.novak @ cvtisr.sk)
Co-Chair Karin Totland, NorCore (kt @ forskningsradet.no)
Excellence
The IGLO Excellence Working Group brings members together to strengthen cooperation on Horizon Europe’s excellence-driven research policies. The name Excellence reflects the group’s core focus on ERC and MSCA and on fostering synergies both within these schemes and with the wider Horizon Europe landscape. The group deepens members’ understanding of excellence measures, supports continuous dialogue, and helps identify complementary approaches across programmes and national systems. It provides a platform for sharing information, good practices and stakeholder feedback to enhance participation and strengthen research ecosystems. The group also identifies opportunities for joint activities that promote research excellence, researcher careers and meaningful synergies across the IGLO network. This WG meets 4-6 times per year.
Contact:
Co-Chair Isabel Herzhoff, KoWi (isabel.herzhoff @ kowi.de)
Co-chair Kristel Oitmaa, ETAG (kristel.oitmaa @ etag.ee)
Co-Chair Sarah Goharnia, Leibniz Association (goharnia @ leibniz-gemeinschaft.de)
Co-Chair Dunja Hofmann, KoWi (dunja.hofmann @ kowi.de)
Green topics
The IGLO Green Working Group serves as a collaborative platform dedicated to advancing understanding and uptake of sustainability-focused funding, policy instruments, and research mechanisms within Horizon Europe and other EU R&I frameworks. The group fosters active exchange among IGLO members on topics such as climate-neutral technologies, green partnerships, circular economy solutions, and relevant EU programme initiatives.
Contact:
Co-Chair David Chvála, CZELO (david.chvala @ dzs.cz)
Co-Chair Asja Masnoglav, SBRA (asja.masnoglav @ sbra.be)
Health
The Health WG brings together members to explore major EU initiatives and new developments in health research and innovation. By sharing ideas and information, it fosters stronger collaboration within the IGLO network. The group maps key players in the field, exchanges insights, and points to the most effective tools from health-related programmes. Meetings take place as required.
Contact:
Co-Chair Inga Benner, KoWi (inga.benner @ kowi.de)
Co-Chair Jens Jäger, Helmholtz Association (jens.jaeger @ helmholtz.de)
Co-Chair Sandra Gillner, SwissCore (gillner @ swisscore.org)
Co-Chair Živilė Grabauskė, LINO (zivile.grabauske @ lmt.lt)
Higher Education and Skills (HE)
The objectives of the WG HE is to share information and exchange ideas on European higher education topics, including topics related to the development of skills. The WG discusses the impact of Erasmus+, the European Education Area process, the Union of Skills initiatives and the modernisation agenda of the EC on higher education and the developments of the Bologna process. To achieve this, it hosts informative debates with speakers from European institutions and other relevant stakeholders that are invited to WG meetings. The WG meets approximately four times a year and it is also open to relevant non-IGLO European higher education stakeholder organizations.
Contact:
Co-Chair Ragnhild Solvi Berg, RCN (ragnhild.berg @ hkdir.no)
Co-Chair Laurin Reding, SwissCore (reding @ swisscore.org)
Co-Chair Lucie Münchová, CZELO (lucie.munchova @ dzs.cz)
Implementation
The Implementation WG aims to raise the general level of knowledge of all GLO Members on the implementation matters in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. It is a platform for Members to exchange best practice and experiences, to discuss issues such as the rules for participation, legal issues and evaluations. The WG fosters close links with relevant stakeholders operating in areas that fall within the scope of the WG’s work. As appropriate, the Implementation WG provides informal feedback to European institutions on implementation issues. This WG meets on a monthly basis.
Contact:
Co-Chair Yvette Gafinen, KoWi (yvette.gafinen @ kowi.de)
Co-Chair Sebastian Claus, KoWi (sebastian.claus @ kowi.de)
Co-Chair Karin Totland, NorCore (kt @ forskningsradet.no)
Innovation (INNO)
The main goal of the INNO WG is to closely monitor, share information and gain knowledge about EU activities and developments regarding innovation policy, programmes and instruments, with particular focus on the European Innovation Council (EIC), the European Institute for Innovation and Technology(EIT), and strategic technologies. The WG aims to hold informative discussions with speakers from the European institutions, mostly the European Commission. This WG meets 4-6 times per year.
Contact:
Co-Chair Isabella Ismail, Vinnova (isabella.ismail @ vinnova.se)
Co-Chair Ingeborg Froysnes, Innovation Norway (Ingeborg.Froysnes @ innovationnorway.no)
Co-Chair Luca Cruciato, SwissCore (cruciato @ swisscore.org)
International Cooperation (INCO)
The scope of the INCO WG is to facilitate dialogue and knowledge-sharing among IGLO partners on the international cooperation dimension of the EU R&I programmes, mainly Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. This WG discusses and exchanges knowledge on strategic approaches, instruments and governance issues of international cooperation, as well as sharing feedback from Member States and Third Countries on international R&I activities. This WG invites experts from relevant EU institutions to meetings, which are organized on a bimonthly basis. Non-IGLO liaison offices are welcome to join this WG.
Contact:
Co-Chair Michaela Hnízdilová, CZELO (michaela.hnizdilova @ dzs.cz)
Co-Chair Karin Totland, NorCore (kt @ forskningsradet.no)
R&I on Security and Related Topics (RISET)
The role of the RISET WG is to facilitate dialogue and knowledge exchange among IGLO members on EU R&I programmes and strategies in the field of Security research in its broader sense, including Defence and Space. This WG discusses and exchanges knowledge on Security and Defence dimensions promoted by European institutions and, when appropriate, NATO.
Contact:
Co-Chair Angelo Volpi, CNR (angelo.volpi @ cnr.it)
Co-Chair Marina Martínez, SOST (marina.cdti @ sost.be)
Co-Chair Bettina Schelkle, KoWi (bettina.schelkle @ kowi.de)
Co-Chair Carmen Kivistik, ETAG (Carmen.Kivistik @ etag.ee)
