Futures4Europe

Cookie Policy

Last Updated: [20 January 2025]

The Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding UEFISCDI (hereafter the “UEFISCDI”) understands that your privacy is important to you and is committed to being transparent about the technologies it uses.

This Cookies Policy explains how and why UEFISCDI uses cookies. We recommend reading this policy in conjunction with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions to gain a comprehensive understanding of our practices.

This Cookies Policy has been adopted by UEFISCDI in accordance with the following laws and regulations:

(i) EU Directive 2002/58/EC concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications);

(ii) Law no. 506/2004 on the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector, (“Law no. 506/2004”);

(iii) Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (“General Data Protection Regulation” or “GDPR”), as well as other applicable regulations at the European or local level, adopted in the context of GDPR.

(iv) The Data Protection Act 2018, which is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR);

(v) Federal Act on Data Protection (Data Protection Act, FADP) of 25 September 2020 (Status as of 1 September 2023) of the Swiss Confederation, which governs the processing of personal data.

1. What are cookies?

A cookie is a small text file that a website saves on your computer, tablet or mobile device (the “Device”) when you visit the „Futures4Europe” digital platform. It enables the website to remember your actions and preferences over a period of time, so you don’t have to keep re-entering them whenever you come back to our website or browse from one page to another, as well as to improve your experience on UEFISCDI’’s website, to the extent you agree. These allows our website to recognize your device from those of other users of the website.

2. Different types of cookies

Session cookies are only stored for the duration of your visit to our website and are deleted from your Device as soon as you close your browser;

Persistent cookies are saved on your device for a fix period of time after you close your browser and are used where we (or a third party) need to identify you for a later browsing session. We use persistent cookies to improve your experience of using our website. This includes recording your acceptance to our Cookies Policy to remove the cookie message which first appears when you use our website. Persistent cookies also include third party cookies that can be used anonymously to save the interests of users, in order to deliver personalized adverts to users;

First party cookies are cookies that belong to UEFISCDI and that UEFISCDI places on your Device;

Third party cookies are cookies that another party places on your Device through Futures4Europe’s website. These include cookies from external analytics services which help us to understand the use of our website, or are used for advertising or tracking purposes.

3. How long will cookies be stored on your computer?

The length of time that a cookie remains on your Device may vary significantly and depends on whether it is a “persistent” or “session” cookie. Persistent cookies are stored for a fixed duration or until manually deleted and remain after you stop browsing, while session cookies are temporary and are deleted once you close your browser. Persistent cookies can last from a few days to several years. To manage cookies, including deleting them before they expire, you can follow the specific instructions detailed in Section 8 of the cookie policy, which provides guidance on customizing cookie settings based on your preferences.

4. What type of information are stored and accessed through cookies?

Cookies store information in small text file that allows the website to recognize the browser. The webserver will recognize the browser until the cookie expires or is erased.

Cookies store important information that enhance the navigation experience on the Internet.

5. Why do we use cookies?

UEFISCDI uses cookies to enhance the functionality and security of “Eye of Europe - The Research and Innovation foresight community”, directly linked with the “Futures4Europe” digital platform, where most of the content comes from.

Futures4Europe digital platform uses both first party cookies and third party cookies. These cookies are used for security purposes, to improve the use and the functionality of our website, for authentication of users, to facilitate navigation, to display information more effectively, and to better serve you with more tailored information. We may also use cookies to gather statistical information about the usage of the website in order to continually improve the design and functionality, to understand how visitors use the website, and to assist us with resolving questions regarding the website.

We will not use cookies for automated decision making processes or for creating profiles.

6. What cookies do we use?

Essential or strictly necessary cookies are critical for the proper functioning of our website.. Without these cookies, parts of our website do not operate correctly. These cookies do not track where you have been on the internet and do not remember preferences beyond your current visit and do not gather information about you that could be used for marketing purposes. These cookies are usually session cookies which will expire when you close your browsing session. Accordingly, we are not asking you for your specific consent for those cookies.

For all other types of cookies, such as those used for analytics or personalization, your informed consent is necessary.

Functionality cookies, including geotargeting cookies are used to increase the usability of our website by remembering your choices (e.g. language, country, region, login, and so on).

Performance cookies gather information about a website’s operation, such as visitor numbers, time spent on the site, and any error messages. These cookies help us analyze user behavior patterns and improve the website’s functionality, identifying areas needing maintenance. The data is often managed by third-party analytics services. Importantly, the information collected is anonymous, meaning it does not include personally identifiable details like names or email addresses, and is used purely for statistical purposes to enhance the user experience.

Statistical cookies help us tailor the website to visitor preferences by tracking metrics such as visit frequency, pages viewed, and user activity. We use Google Analytics for this purpose, but your IP address is anonymized to ensure privacy. The data collected allows us to generate traffic reports, helping to identify which pages are most successful and areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing the site’s functionality based on user behavior.

The table below contains a list of different type of cookies that may be used on our website, together with information regarding the storage period for each type of cookie used, their type, their source (if they are first or third party) and whether they are transferred or not outside the EU/EEA:

Name of cookie	Type of cookie	Description	Is it necessary?	Who controls the information?	Expiry period	Type of information
f4e_wix_sessionToken	authentication	Generated when authenticated in Wix through our website and stored for validating auth requests	Yes, for logging in	Website/Sent to Wix for auth	Session cookie 8hrs max	Generated OAuth authentication tokens
f4e_wix_accessTokenAndRefreshToken	Refresh authentication	Refresh token for OAuth. The session token is typically short-lived, while the refresh token allows renewing the session without forcing the user to log in again.	Yes, for refreshing the user's session for when logged in	Website/Sent to Wix for auth	7days	Generated OAuth refresh tokens
_ga	user-input	Third-party (Google Analytics)	No (for statistics only)	Third-party; Google LLC (outside the EU), Google Analytics' backend manages the data collected via cookies like _ga and uses it to provide analytics reports to website owners. Holding Marketing Department	2 years	Id number
_gid	user-input	Third-party (Google Analytics)	No (for statistics only)	Third-party; Google LLC (outside the EU), tracking users across page views within a single day, Holding Marketing Department	24 hours	Id number
_gat	user-input	Third-party (Google Analytics)	No (for statistics only)	Third-party; Google LLC (outside the EU), used for request rate throttling to manage and reduce the number of tracking requests sent to Google Analytics servers, Holding Marketing Department	1 minute	Id number
_csrf-[to be inserted] -exchange	user centric security	Cross-site request forgery protection token.	Yes (for security reasons)	Website	Session cookie	Token

7. What makes cookies essential for the internet?

Cookies play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of websites by enhancing the browsing experience and tailoring it to each user`'s preferences and interests. If cookies are denied or disabled, many websites may lose essential functionalities, potentially becoming difficult or even impossible to use as intended. Cookies help maintain website responsiveness and create a seamless, user-friendly experience across different platforms.

Denying or disabling cookies does not mean you will not receive online advertising - but only that it will no longer be able to keep track of your preferences and interests highlighted by your browsing behavior.

Examples of important uses of cookies (which do not require authentication of a user through an account):

(i) Personalized experiences: Cookies remember language preferences or customize search results based on user interests (e.g., showing Romanian content).

(ii) Relevant advertising: They help deliver ads that are more aligned with the user`'s preferences and browsing habits.

(iii) Analytics and optimization: Cookies enable websites to track traffic levels, content engagement, and how users navigate to the site (via search engines, direct links, etc.). These insights help website owners optimize the user experience and improve site functionality.

Websites run these analyzes of their use to improve sites for the benefit of users.

8. How can you manage or disable cookies?

You have several options to control and manage cookies. You can configure your browser to accept or reject all cookies, or only specific types. Accepting all cookies enables full access to all website features, while blocking or removing cookies may negatively affect your experience and limit website functionality. If you block all cookies, both first-party and third-party cookies will be deactivated. To manage or delete third-party cookies, refer to your browser settings.

For details on what your browser offers and how to configure your browser according to your choices, please go to the “Help” menu or other dedicated section of your internet browser. By way of example:

(i) Mozilla Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cookies-information-websites-store-on-your-computer

(ii) Google Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en

(iii) Safari: http://safari.helpmax.net/en/saving-time/blocking-content/

(iv) Opera: http://help.opera.com/Linux/9.22/en/cookies.html

9. Security

For security purposes, data passed between the web server and the browser in SSL encrypted and therefore, UEFSCDI has implemented specific measures for protecting your personal data stored in cookies.

Cookies are installed through the request issued by a webserver to a browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Safari etc.) and are completely passive – they do not contain software programs, viruses, spyware and cannot access the information stored on the user’s hard drive. Cookies do not consist of pieces of code, so they cannot be executed, nor can auto-execute.

While cookies are primarily intended to enhance user experience, they can also be misused for harmful purposes. Because cookies store data about your preferences and browsing history, both on individual and multiple websites, they may be exploited as spyware by unauthorized parties. This risk arises when data is transmitted between your browser and a website, particularly on unsecured networks like public WiFi, where unauthorized individuals can intercept the information.

In addition, cookies can be vulnerable if websites do not properly secure their settings. For instance, if a site doesn’t enforce encrypted communication (such as HTTPS), hackers can trick the browser into sending data through unsecured channels. These vulnerabilities may allow unauthorized persons to access sensitive information or exploit the data for illegal purposes.

There are also risks from poorly configured servers, where incorrect cookie settings expose the user’s information. Ensuring secure communication between the browser and server is critical to avoid unauthorized access.

To protect personal information, it’s important to carefully manage how cookies are handled. Modern browsers offer privacy settings that let users control cookie acceptance levels, decide how long cookies are valid, and even set them to be automatically deleted after visiting certain websites. Regularly reviewing and adjusting these settings helps minimize risks and maintain control over your personal data while browsing the internet.

Here are some tips that can help you navigate effortlessly with cookies:

(i) Customize Browser Settings: Adjust your cookie security settings to a level that meets your comfort and security needs.

(ii) Manage Shared Access: If you share your computer, configure your browser to delete browsing data after each session to protect personal information.

(iii) Update Anti-spyware: Regularly install and update anti-spyware programs to detect and prevent cookie-based attacks.

(iv) Site Protection: Use tools that detect and block malicious sites that exploit browser vulnerabilities.

(v) Keep Your Browser Updated: Make sure your browser is current, as outdated versions are more susceptible to attacks exploiting cookie vulnerabilities.

This approach ensures that you’re balancing security with functionality while navigating the web.

10. Contact details

This website is owned and operated by UEFISCDI. Please contact Data Protection Officer if you would like more information on the cookies that we use and their purposes:

e-mail: info@futures4europe.eu

XI. Amendments to this Cookies Policy

UEFISCDI reserves the right to revise its Cookies Policy whenever necessary, either due to legal obligations or changes implemented on the platform. Any amendments to the policy will be communicated to users in advance, particularly through a notice posted on the website. This ensures users are informed of both the amendments and the date when they take effect. The effective date of the latest version of the Cookies Policy will always be indicated at the bottom of the policy to provide clarity on its implementation timeline.

Users are encouraged to regularly review the policy to stay informed of any updates.