Dr. John Marks Director of Science and Strategy Centres of Excellence Meeting, Prague, 24 May

The ESF promotes the development of European science at the forefront of knowledge in all disciplines, by bringing together leading scientists and research funding agencies to debate, plan and implement European research

ESF Key Characteristics Multidisciplinary – all disciplines are covered: Physical and engineering sciences Life and environmental sciences Medical sciences Humanities Social sciences High scientific quality – leading scientists and leading funding agencies, ethically sound research practice Independent voice – independent of governments and interest groups Flexible decision making – swift, flexible, efficient responses to new developments in open and transparent variable geometry

ESF Promotes Integration of the European research community Development of a European research agenda in areas of strategic importance Coordinated European approaches to global programmes Management of programmes on behalf of the ESF MOs

ESF Member Organisations 76 in 29 Countries: Academies, Granting Agencies, Organisations of Institutes

ESF Instruments Forward Looks Exploratory Workshops EUROCORES EURYI À la carte Scientific Programmes COST Actions Research Conferences Science Policy Actions

ESF Budget Directly: General BudgetM 7,5 Other fundingM 12,5 Indirectly: EURYIM 5,0 EUROCORESM 15,0 COSTM 20,0

Scientific Forward Looks Medium - long term scientific perspectives Multidisciplinary topics viewed from a European level Bring together leading scientists and policy makers Should lead to authoritative reports and action plans for research and infrastructure Systems Biology Cultural Diversity Urban Science Nanomedicine Earth System Science Nanosciences Immigration and Identity

Exploratory Workshops Bring together scientists to exchange ideas, establish new links and develop collaborative actions, spearheading new topics Yearly open call May lead to ESF or other proposals (e.g. FP); position statements scientists involved Protein Arrays Ecological-Economic Modelling of Biodiversity New Optics of the Human Eye Microwave Chemistry Environmentally Friendly Composites Re-integration of the Ukraine in Europe Migrants and Human Tissue Donation

European Science Foundation Collaborative Research Programmes EUROCORES Investigator driven, all areas of science Create European scale and scope in topics where this is needed for excellence Provide flexible framework for collaboration of national basic research funding bodies Open and transparent variable geometry European competition with international peer review Networking and scientific management funded from M 20 EC contract

EUROCORES Origin of Man, Language and Languages EuroMARGINS (Ocean Margins) Self Organised Nanostructures European Clinical Trials Dynamic Nuclear Architecture and Chromatin Function EuroCLIMATE Science of Protein Production EuroSTELLS (Stem cells) EuroDIVERSITY European Structural Systems Technologies Genetic Terrestrial and Atmospheric Research European Mineral Sciences Initiative Smart Epidemiology Arteriosclerosis Fundamentals of Nano Electronics Consciousness in a Natural and Cultural Context

EUROCORES: Key Figures Participating organisations11-23 Size M 10 Projects submitted50-70 Projects funded16-20 From idea to call(3)15-20months Call(3)3months Review and ranking(6)6-12months Commitments by POs(1)5months Start projects(1)1-25 months

ESF Scientific Programmes Bring together substantive research projects carried out by multinational teams Supported by ESF MOs through á la carte funding Include workshops, summer schools, exchanges, fellowships and dissemination May link to other initiatives, including the EC-FP Core Group of 8-12 scientists Funding of k90k - k250 per year for 5 years Impacts of genetically modified plants Integrated Approaches to Functional Genomics Femtochemistry and Femtobiology Noncommutative Geometry Towards Atomistic Materials Design Quantitative methods in Social Sciences

European Young Investigator Award – EURYI To stimulate the best young researchers in any field, from all over the world, to pursue their career in Europe Selection criteria: scientific quality, originality, quality of host institution Selection by panels of the highest scientific quality Initiative of 17 EUROHORCs and ESF 1 st Call: 25 grants of /yr-5years

EURYI Status 770 applications in national pre-selection 30 April: 133 applications delivered to ESF Mid June: pre-selection by 6 panels Early July: interviews of 60 candidates 26 July: EUROHORCS decide on 25 grants 27 August: EUROHORCS award ceremony at the EuroSCIENCE Conference in Stockholm EC funding for the management of the scheme 15 September launch 2 nd Call 15 December closing date 2 nd Call

ESF Research Conferences High profile framework for scientific debate on frontline topics Bring together younger and established leaders Partnerships with others in Europe ESF World Conferences: Japan, US, China, International Partners participants Limited number of attractive venues

Research Infrastructures RI studies comprise analysis of the scientific and technical case follow up with funding organisations ESF scientific studies have led to the creation of ESRF and the Social Science Survey

Science Policy Activities ESF Forward Looks Policy Briefings, e.g. on communication, infectious diseases, animal experiments NWO-ESF Conference on international cooperation among research funding agencies in Europe, 4-5 November Active role in the development of the ERC together with EUROHORCS and EC

ERC: Where do we stand? Early 2003: ESF Sykes report December 2003: Mayor report January 2004: EC Communication Europe and Basic Research February 2004: EUROHORCS + ESF meet Busquin, resulting an invitation for a partnership on two main issues: Advice on the implementation of ERC(ompetition) Development of enhanced coordination and cooperation (ERA - NET plus)

The Six Axes of an FP7 Transnational collaboration Large Scale Technology Partnerships European Competition by Individual Teams Human Resources Development Research Infrastructures Coordination of National Programmes

European Research Competition Arms length from EC, governance by scientific community Scientific excellence as the only criterion Covering all fields Proposal assessment through international peer review Bottom up proposal process, no themes Grants instead of contracts Adequate funds, adequate success rate Transparent and lean structure

Enhanced Coordination in the ERA EUROHORCS-ESF Package for Partnership Research Foresights Science Markets Harmonisation of procedures Exchange of Information EuroPAC: Research in Partnership Creating European Excellence Funding Commitment by Councils Bonus EC Funding of Research Funding for Networking, Coordination, Synthesis and Integration

European Science Foundation 1 quai Lezay-Marnésia B.P Strasbourg cedex France Tel:+33 (0) Fax: +33 (0)