Would EU science benefit from a European Research Council?

Brussels, 29 March 2002

The question of whether European science would benefit from the creation of a European Research Council (ERC) will be under discussion at a conference organised by the Danish research councils on 7 and 8 October 2002.

The event, which will take place during the Danish Presidency of the EU, will bring together representatives from governments, the scientific community and the European Commission to discuss the pros and cons of creating a Research Council for Europe.

It will question whether the ERC could add real value to the European research area (ERA), what its mission would be, which funding instruments and research areas would be appropriate and how the council would fit into existing research funding structures in Europe.

The forthcoming EU Framework programme for research, FP6, will help to achieve the European research area aim of strengthening the capacity of European scientists to contribute to economic competitiveness and quality of life. The concept of the ERA, and the challenge of coordinating and opening up national funding sources, is fuelling debate on whether EU scientists would benefit from an independent public funding structure for high quality European-level research.

Denmark will take over the European Union Presidency for the sixth time on 1 July 2002.

For further information, please contact:

Danish Research Agency Randersgade 60 DK-2100 Copenhagen Tel: +45-3544-6200 Fax: +45-3544-6203 http://www.forsk.dk

CORDIS RTD-NEWS/© European Communities, 2001