Mr Neil Williams Head of the Physical and Engineering Sciences Unit Madrid: 31 May 2010

2 Setting Science Agendas for Europe The European Science Foundation provides a common platform for its Member Organisations in order to: advance European research explore new directions for research at the European level Through its activities, the ESF serves the needs of the European research community in a global context. Madrid 31 May 2010

3 ESF Member Organisations ESF is an independent association of 79 Member Organisations research funding organisations research performing organisations academies and learned societies in 30 countries Madrid 31 May 2010

About ESF 4 Established in 1974 Offices in Strasbourg, Brussels, Ostend ESF budget: 53M in 2008 including COST 30M Staff: 152 in 2008 including COST Office staff ESF headquarters, Strasbourg Marine Board, Ostend Research Conferences Unit, 15th floor, Tour Louise, Brussels Madrid 31 May 2010

5 ESF covers all scientific domains Standing Committee domains Humanities Social Sciences Life, Earth & Environmental Sciences Medical Sciences Physical and Engineering Sciences Expert Board/Committee domains Marine Sciences Polar Sciences Space Sciences Radio Astronomy Nuclear Physics Material Science Madrid 31 May 2010

6 Exploratory Workshops Member Organisation Fora Science Policy Briefings Research Conferences Research Networking Programmes Forward Looks Implementing agent for the COST office through EC contract SCIENCE STRATEGY SCIENCE STRATEGY SCIENCE MANAGEMENT SCIENCE MANAGEMENT Strategic Plan SCIENCE SYNERGY SCIENCE SYNERGY Coordination of ERA projects Peer Review support Coordination of EUROHORCs projects EUROCORES Research Programmes ESF Activities Madrid 31 May 2010

A Chain of Instruments Exploratory Workshops Conferences Forward Looks RNPs EUROCORES 7 Madrid 31 May 2010

8 Exploratory Workshops Member Organisation Fora Science Policy Briefings Research Conferences Research Networking Programmes Forward Looks Implementing agent for the COST office through EC contract SCIENCE STRATEGY SCIENCE STRATEGY SCIENCE MANAGEMENT SCIENCE MANAGEMENT Strategic Plan SCIENCE SYNERGY SCIENCE SYNERGY Coordination of ERA projects Peer Review support Coordination of EUROHORCs projects EUROCORES Research Programmes ESF Activities Madrid 31 May 2010

9 Forward Looks Medium - long term scientific perspectives Multidisciplinary topics viewed at a European level Bring together scientists with policy makers Wide consultation Result in major reports and action plans Madrid 31 May 2010

10 Forward Looks No Closing Dates: suggestions to ESF Committees Suggestions developed with MOs Approved by Science Advisory Board and Governing Council ~k250 each over 2 years Examples: –Science and Society; –Mathematics and Industry; –Food and Safety; –Perspectives for Nuclear Physics in Europe Madrid 31 May 2010

11 One-off specialist meetings Spearheading topics Bottom-up topics based on open calls Should catalyse significant and strategic activities, other actions, at European level scientists involved ESF grant per event 14k Exploratory Workshops Madrid 31 May 2010

12 Annual Call Early March to late April 2011 Decision By November Workshops in proposals per Call 40 awards for 2010 Workshops Co-funding welcome Exploratory Workshops Madrid 31 May 2010

13 Output-oriented discussion platforms for Member Organisations (MO) to develop joint actions on specific issues, involving others as appropriate Actions: to benefit MO strategy development and/or lead to the development of –Best practice e.g. peer review, evaluation –Common procedures –Cooperative activities e.g. infrastructures Time-limited activities (two years) ESF Member Organisation Fora Madrid 31 May 2010

14 Exploratory Workshops Member Organisation Fora Science Policy Briefings Research Conferences Research Networking Programmes Forward Looks Implementing agent for the COST office through EC contract SCIENCE STRATEGY SCIENCE STRATEGY SCIENCE MANAGEMENT SCIENCE MANAGEMENT Strategic Plan SCIENCE SYNERGY SCIENCE SYNERGY Coordination of ERA projects Peer Review support Coordination of EUROHORCs projects EUROCORES Research Programmes ESF Activities Madrid 31 May 2010

A Chain of Instruments Exploratory Workshops Conferences Forward Looks RNPs EUROCORES 15 Madrid 31 May 2010

16 Unique investigator-driven collaborative research programme scheme in Europe covering all scientific disciplines Excellent opportunity for the science community and ESF MOs to submit their ideas for a large-scale collaborative research programme International and joint peer review Research funding remains national Networking funded through ESF EUROCORES (European Collaborative Research Programmes) Madrid 31 May 2010

17 Annual Call for Themes Call Open mid March - late May 2010 Quality selected and financially viable themes launched as Programmes by Calls for proposals in December 2010 Research projects start March 2012 Typical duration 3-4 years ~ 30 Programmes ~ 65+ agencies ~ 180 projects ~130M+ EUROCORES (European Collaborative Research Programmes) Madrid 31 May 2010

new Programme Calls a year. CRPs (Projects) – single science case with minimum 3 eligible PIs from 3 participating countries. Two step assessment procedure. Launch of CRP dependant on high ranking AND availability of national funds. ESF provides coordination of programmes and networking between (not within) CRPs EUROCORES (European Collaborative Research Programmes) Madrid 31 May 2010

19 Networking to enable major scientific endeavours over a four or five-year period Supported by ESF MOs through additional à la carte funding Typically include workshops, conferences, inter-laboratory exchanges, fellowship programmes, summer schools and dissemination Can link to other initiatives, including the EC Framework Programme Financing in the range of 100k - 130k per annum Research Networking Programmes Madrid 31 May 2010

20 Annual Call Call open early July – late October 2010 RNPs starting 1 January 2012 Core Steering Group of 8-12 scientists ~ one per participating country Research Quality and added value of European networking launched per year total – > 50% in PESC Success rates 10-15% Can include non-ESF MO funders Research Networking Programmes Madrid 31 May 2010

21 Research Conferences Interdisciplinary scheme for Europe implemented in collaboration with high-profile partners Stimulate dialogue between early-stage researchers and scientific leaders worldwide Cover the latest topics, proposed by and for the scientific community Full organisational support by ESF conference organisers Grants of 20-60k per conference, including support earmarked for early-stage researchers Madrid 31 May 2010

22 Research Conferences Themed partnerships Potential conference chairs submit proposals within a partnership theme per year participants Call mid January – mid September 2010 for conferences in Madrid 31 May 2010

23 Open Calls for Proposals ESF issues annual open calls for proposals for: EUROCORES themes and projects Research Networking Programmes Exploratory Workshops Research Conferences Madrid 31 May 2010

24 Exploratory Workshops Member Organisation Fora Science Policy Briefings Research Conferences Research Networking Programmes Forward Looks Implementing agent for the COST office through EC contract SCIENCE STRATEGY SCIENCE STRATEGY SCIENCE MANAGEMENT SCIENCE MANAGEMENT Strategic Plan SCIENCE SYNERGY SCIENCE SYNERGY Coordination of ERA projects Peer Review support Coordination of EUROHORCs projects EUROCORES Research Programmes ESF Activities Madrid 31 May 2010

European Science Foundation 1 quai Lezay-Marnésia BP Strasbourg cedex France Madrid 31 May 2010