The ERC Scientific Council communicates its launch strategy and calls for applications for the position of ERC Secretary General
le 5 May 2006
Scientific Council of the European Research Council
Press Statement, 28 April 2006
The Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC) has today published its outline strategy for the launch of the ERC and provided details of how talented starting young researchers will receive funding in its start-up phase. Two strategy notes are published on the new Scientific Council website launched today which is designed to provide early and effective communication with the scientific community. The Scientific Council also started the recruitment process for the Secretary General of the European Research Council by launching an open call for candidates today.
The 22-member Scientific Council gathered for its third meeting in Vienna on 26 and 27 April. As part of an extensive debate on the overall scientific strategy for the ERC at the start of its operations in early 2007, the Scientific Council confirmed that priority will be given to supporting independent careers of excellent researchers from all over Europe and approved two strategy notes, on the launch of the ERC and on the ERC Starting Independent Research Grant.
Prof. Fotis Kafatos, Chairman of the Scientific Council, said: “we are releasing these strategy notes today to give a clear indication of our thinking at an early stage, enabling the research community better to prepare for the launch of the ERC”.
The outline strategy for the launch of the ERC states that two funding streams, operating on a ‘bottom up’ basis across all research fields, will be the core of the ERC’s operations for the full duration of the 7th Framework Programme.
The Scientific Council also published an open call for the position of Secretary General of the European Research Council with a deadline for applications and nominations on 31 May 2006. Candidates must be senior persons with a recognised scientific profile and proven experience in science policy, and an acknowledged successful leadership record in scientific funding organisations. Both applications by candidates themselves and nominations by others are invited.
The two strategy notes are available on the newly-launched website of the ERC Scientific Council at http://erc.europa.eu along with the call for the recruitment of the Secretary General of the ERC.
