WHAT IS EMBO

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Transfrontier co-operation and collaboration
are necessary but not sufficient.. A
European Council of the kind envisaged with the
objective of supporting basic research in Europe
on the basis of considerable autonomy would meet
a need which today is being met
inadequately (EU Research Commissioner Philippe
Busquin)
2

• Political Context
• Europe is consolidating as a political and
  economic unit
• Europe is expanding
• Barriers between EU member states are falling
• Europe aims to be the worlds leading knowledge
  based economy

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NATIONAL
EUROPEAN
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• Scope of an ERC
• Research Grants
• Career Development Awards
• Infrastructure
• New Institutes
• Other

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Scientific Context

• 1. Research has no boundaries, funding does.
• 2. Research is increasingly collaborative.
• 3. Mixed approaches or interdisciplinary
  approaches to study problems require different
  groups working together.

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Scientific Context

• 4. The combination of hypothesis driven and high
  throughput research is creating new possibilities
  and needs new funding mechanisms.
• 5. Funding for truly innovative quality research
  is difficult to obtain.
• 6. Funding for fundamental research is difficult
  to obtain.

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• The process of supporting fundamental research is
  inherently different to programmes directed to a
  defined (applied) output

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Linking Science and Politics

• Europes (or national) future economic well being
  will need sophisticated innovative industries
• Knowledge based economies need knowledge and
  highly skilled people
• Novel knowledge needs high quality research
• High quality fundamental research always causes
  surprises
• New insights give new opportunities
• These opportunities are unpredictable

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Characteristics of the European Research Council

• It would support high quality basic research in
  all areas of science
• It would have few restrictions or prescriptions
• Its administration should be light
• It would base its judgements on scientific
  criteria only (..NO JUSTE RETOUR)

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Characteristics of the European Research Council

• It would use the views of leading scientists,
  worldwide, as the sole basis for selection
• The Council should have a high level of support
  from the scientific community
• It will not be an alternative EC Framework
  Programme
• It should NOT diminish national programmes

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• Consequences of an ERC
• Help Europe to catch up with competitors
• Make Europe a more attractive location for modern
  industry
• Help retain and attract scientists to Europe
• Help train more scientists (500,000 extra
  required before 2010)
• Provide better support for research in Europe

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Financial Aspects
Scale Million per Annum
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• Sources of Money
• National Particularly New Money from the 3
  goal
• EU Framework Perhaps a contribution in FP7
• EU Research Currently approx 5 of the total
  EU budget - a 2 increase would provide the
  required money.
• Foundations Perhaps at start some to stimulate
  the process
• Industry Unlikely on a significant scale

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Progress to 1 goal for Governmental RD
Expenditure
Ref EMBOreports Vol 4/No 2/2003
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• Questions for Ireland
• How well will Irish scientists do in a European
  wide competition?
• Will Ireland become the location for any major
  infrastructure?
• Will Ireland capture its share of novel I.P.?
• Is Ireland spending enough on research to ensure
  success?

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Timetable 2003 High level group (Sykes) reports
to the E.S.F. High level group (Mayor)
established by Denmark EU Presidency completes
its discussions 2004 Irish EU Presidency followed
by the Dutch Presidency to consider Mayor
Report 2004/5 Framework Programme 7 prepared New
budget (6 year) for EU discussed 2006 New budget
for EU is activated
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