Der europäische Forschungsrat (IDEAS) Dr. T. Papazoglou Europäische Kommission

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1 Der europäische Forschungsrat (IDEAS) Dr. T. Papazoglou Europäische Kommission Die Veranstaltung wird unterstützt von: a

2 The 7th Framework Programme Ideas European Commission

3 Overview Evolution of the ERC Organisation Strategy and Implementation 2

4 Basic/frontier research in the European Research Area National activities: Research councils (DFG-1920, CNR-1923, CNRS-1939, SNF-1952), academies, etc. Intergovernmental activities: CERN (1953), ESO (1962), ESA (1962/1975), EMBO (1963), ILL (1967), COST (1971), ESF (1974), EMBL (1978), Eureka (1985), ITRE (1988), ESRF (1988), INTAS (1993) EU activities ( supranational ): Treaties of Rome: ECSC Euratom - EC (1957), JRC (1959), JET (1973), FP1 (1984) FP7 (2006) European Research Area (2000) FP7 ( ): Ideas/ERC, Marie Curie fellowships, research infrastructures, thematic priority areas 3

5 The birth of the European Research Council The ERC is: A logical development of the European Research Area Securely anchored in European legislation but at the same time.. A revolutionary development 4

6 Major steps in the birth of the ERC 12/2003: ERC Expert Group (ERCEG) established by Danish EU Presidency argues for creation of an ERC 03/2004: European Council agrees on the need for an EU funding scheme targeting basic research 04/2005: European Commission proposes creation of an ERC funded through the 7 th EU Framework Programme 07/2005: Independent Committee proposes 22 renowned scientists as founding members of the ERC Scientific Council 10/2005: ERC Scientific Council meets for the first time 11/2006: 7 th EU Framework Programme to be adopted 01/2007: First ERC call for proposals to be launched 5

7 Ideas/ERC in FP7 A new institution Which is also part of the family of FP7: Co-operation Ideas People Capacities Complementary to other FP7 support to research (bottom-up vs targeted rsearch) 6

8 FP7 Ideas Programme Creates ERC Provides funding Budget ( ) : ~7.5 Bio. Euro (around 15% of FP7 budget) Average annual budget: ~1 Bio. Euro Sets overall objectives for research and operating principles 7

9 ERC guiding principles (I) Support frontier research projects 100 % reimbursement of projects All fields of science and scholarship are eligible investigator-driven, bottom-up Excellence is the only valid criterion individual team + research project Independent individual teams in Europe Nationality of researchers not relevant, host organisation to be located in EU or AS 8

10 Why Frontier Research? Research at the frontiers is: intrinsically risky characterised by an absence of disciplinary boundaries Frequently useful We want to avoid outmoded distinctions: Between basic and applied research Between science and technology Between traditional disciplines 9

11 Finalise political negotiations ERC launch preparations Establish legal base for the Scientific Council and the Executive Agency (ERC EA) Establish physical capacities for the ERC EA (via a transitory Dedicated Implementation Structure) Build up personnel and infrastructure Prepare operations and management, including: frontier research grant evaluation system Communicate ERC launch and strategy to scientific community 10

12 Overview Evolution of the ERC Organisation Strategy and Implementation 11

13 ERC Structure and Organisation The Scientific Council Independent scientific governance The Agency Practical implementation and management of operations The European Union Providing the financial means 12

14 The Scientific Council Members & Role 22 high level scientists reflecting the full scope of European research, nominated by the Commission Role: Establish overall scientific strategy annual work programmes (incl. calls for proposals, evaluation criteria); define peer review methodology; ensure selection and accreditation of experts Control quality of operations and management Ensure communication with the scientific community 13

15 The Scientific Council Structure & Organisation 22 Members of ScC elected the Chair and Vice-Chairs Chair: Prof. Fotis Kafatos Vice-Chairs: Prof. Helga Nowotny and Dr Daniel Estève Secretariat of the ScC Regular Plenary Meetings (every 1-2 months) 14

16 The Agency Execute annual work programme (established by the Scientific Council) Implement calls for proposals and provide information and support to applicants Organise peer review evaluation Establish and manage grant agreements Administer scientific and financial aspects and follow-up of grant agreements 15

17 The European Union (represented by the European Commission) Provide financing through the EU framework programmes Guarantees autonomy of the ERC Assures the integrity and accountability of the ERC Adopts annual work programmes as established by the Scientific Council 16

18 The ERC Secretary-General Prof. Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker (Jan 2007 June 2009) Prof. Andreu Mas-Colell (July 2009 Dec 2011) Role: Representative of ScC Ensure integrated operation of ERC Member of ERC board 17

19 The ERC Board 5 person management board: President (Chair of the Scientific Council) Vice-Presidents (Vice-Chairs of the Scientific Council) Director of the Agency ERC Secretary-General 18

20 Dedicated Implementation Structure (DIS) Progressive establishment of ERC Executive Agency (ERC EA) Starting with DIS within Commission (Directorate S) to built up of capacities and operational methods Principles of lean and efficient management Staff up to 400 people (0.25 person per million managed) Transition of DIS to ERC EA as early as possible ERCEA will be legally established within the first trimester of 2007 and is expected to be fully operational by mid

21 Initial structure for ERC development European Commission DG Research Scientific Council Directorate S Implementation of the Ideas programme S1: Strategic matters and relations with the ScC S2: Management S3: Logistical support S4: Administration & finance Other responsible departments ERC political negotiation 20

22 The first home for the ERC Madou Plaza Tour Madou 1210 Brussels 2 dedicated floors (6th/7th) 140 work places 5 meeting rooms 1 auditorium (120 seats) 21

23 Overview Evolution of the ERC Organisation Strategy and Implementation 22

24 Challenges for research in Europe (I) Limited career opportunities in Europe, especially for young researchers, compared to more promising career opportunities elsewhere brain drain to other professions or countries Decreasing popularity/prestige of science fewer students taking science subjects Dropping private R&D investments industrial R&D is moving abroad Fragmentation of research and funding activities lack of competition and visibility Complex Administration not helping to attract/maintain the best researchers 23

25 ERC Launch Strategy 2 funding streams operating on bottomup basis Application procedures simplified ERC will be flexible to adjust mechanisms and scientific strategies ERC will complement (but not duplicate) existing European research initiatives 24

26 Two ERC Funding Streams Two streams of activity are foreseen: 1. ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant scheme (ERC Starting Grant) Call for proposals to be published in early ERC Advanced Investigator Researcher Grant scheme (ERC Advanced Grant) Call for proposals at a later stage 25

27 ERC Starting Grant (ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant ) Support researchers at the start of their independent research career and establishment of their first research team Provide a structure for transition from working under a supervisor to independent research Supply grants to support the creation of excellent new teams of which bring energy and new ideas to their disciplines 26

28 ERC Starting Grant (ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant ) Main aim is the 3Rs: Retain, Repatriate, Recruit ~ 300M (approximately ⅓ of ERC annual budget) Euro per year (increments of Euro) ~ 200 Starting Grants per year, each for up to 5 years 1400 Starting Grants over 7 years of FP7 27

29 ERC Advanced Grant (ERC Advanced Investigator Researcher Grant) Designed to support excellent investigatorinitiated research projects by established investigators Should complement the ERC Starting Grant scheme by targeting researchers who have already established their independence as team leaders Euro per year max 2-3 Mio. Euro per grant (ca. 200 grants per year) 28

30 ERC Grants (II) Up to 5 years Two-step application Procedure (due to large number of expected applications) Peer review Panels determine proposals to be funded and applicable budgets Simple grant preparation for most projects Flexibility and portability Short annual reports plus detailed final report 29

31 Who can apply? Individual Teams The Team Leader ( Principal Investigator ) has the power to assemble his/her research group; freedom to choose the research topic. Individual teams should consist of a grouping of researchers which meets the needs of the project, without artificial administrative constraints; thus members may be drawn from one or several legal entities, from either within or across national boundaries, including third countries 30

32 FP7 / ERC launch events FP7 launch event for information multipliers Brussels, 7-9 February Conference aimed at intermediaries and at stakeholders of European research policy ERC launch conference Berlin, February Organised with the German EU presidency as highlevel conference European Research Event with Public Exhibition Brussels, 7 18 March - Political High-level event with presentations and exhibitions on European research success stories 31

33 ScC Website Website of the ERC Scientific Council at 32