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

Mr Neil WilliamsHead of the Physical and Engineering Sciences Unit

Madrid: 31 May 2010

www.esf.org2

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

www.esf.org3

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

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www.esf.org

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

www.esf.org5

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

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www.esf.org6

ExploratoryWorkshopsExploratoryWorkshops

Member Organisation ForaMember Organisation Fora

Science PolicyBriefings


ResearchConferences

ResearchConferences

Research Networking Programmes


Forward LooksForward Looks

Implementing agent for the COST office

through EC contract


through EC contract

SCIENCESTRATEGYSCIENCE

STRATEGYSCIENCE

MANAGEMENT

SCIENCEMANAGEMEN

T

Strategic Plan 2006-2010Strategic Plan 2006-2010

SCIENCESYNERGYSCIENCESYNERGY

Coordination ofERA projects


Peer Reviewsupport

Peer Reviewsupport

Coordination ofEUROHORCs projects


EUROCORES Research Programmes


ESF ActivitiesESF Activities

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www.esf.org

A Chain of Instruments

Exploratory

Workshops

Exploratory

Workshops

ConferencesConferences

Forward

Looks

Forward

Looks

RNPsRNPs

EUROCORESEUROCORES

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www.esf.org8





ResearchConferences

ResearchConferences





through EC contract


through EC contract


STRATEGYSCIENCE

MANAGEMENT

SCIENCEMANAGEMEN

T





Peer Reviewsupport

Peer Reviewsupport






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www.esf.org9

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 actionplans

www.esf.org/flooks

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Forward Looks

• No Closing Dates: suggestions to ESF Committees

• Suggestions developed with MOs• Approved by Science Advisory Board and

Governing Council• ~k€250 each over 2 years• Examples:

– Science and Society; – Mathematics and Industry; – Food and Safety; – Perspectives for Nuclear Physics in Europe

www.esf.org/flooks

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www.esf.org11

• One-off specialist meetings

• Spearheading topics

• ‘Bottom-up’ topics based on open calls

• Should catalyse significant and strategic activities, other actions, at European level

• 25-30 scientists involved

• ESF grant per event 14k€

www.esf.org/workshops

Exploratory Workshops

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www.esf.org12

• Annual Call• Early March to late April 2011• Decision By November • Workshops in 2012

• 200-300 proposals per Call• 40 awards for 2010 Workshops

• Co-funding welcomewww.esf.org/workshops

Exploratory Workshops

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www.esf.org13

• 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)

www.esf.org/activities/mo-fora

ESF Member Organisation Fora

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www.esf.org14





ResearchConferences

ResearchConferences





through EC contract


through EC contract


STRATEGYSCIENCE

MANAGEMENT

SCIENCEMANAGEMEN

T





Peer Reviewsupport

Peer Reviewsupport






Madrid 31 May 2010

www.esf.org

A Chain of Instruments

Exploratory

Workshops

Exploratory

Workshops

ConferencesConferences

Forward

Looks

Forward

Looks

RNPsRNPs

EUROCORESEUROCORES

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www.esf.org16

• 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

www.esf.org/eurocores

EUROCORES(European Collaborative Research Programmes)

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www.esf.org17

• 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€+



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• 5-6 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



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• 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

www.esf.org/programmes


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• 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• 10-15 launched per year• 50-60 total – > 50% in PESC• Success rates 10-15%• Can include non-ESF MO funders

www.esf.org/programmes


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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

www.esf.org/conferences

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Research Conferences

• Themed partnerships • Potential conference chairs submit

proposals within a partnership theme• 30-40 per year• 100-200 participants• Call mid January – mid September 2010

for conferences in 2012

www.esf.org/conferences

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Open Calls for Proposals

ESF issues annual open calls for proposals for:

•EUROCORES themes and projects

•Research Networking Programmes

•Exploratory Workshops

•Research Conferences

www.esf.org/calls

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ResearchConferences

ResearchConferences





through EC contract


through EC contract


STRATEGYSCIENCE

MANAGEMENT

SCIENCEMANAGEMEN

T





Peer Reviewsupport

Peer Reviewsupport






Madrid 31 May 2010

www.esf.org

European Science Foundation1 quai Lezay-MarnésiaBP 9001567080 Strasbourg cedexFrance

+33 3 88 76 71 00

www.esf.org

25Madrid 31 May 2010

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

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