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| "The
Debate" on the European Research Council (ERC) |
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| ERC Meetings |
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| Paris
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| In February 2003 ELSF organised a first meeting on the topic of the ERC, which was hosted by UNESCO in Paris. The meeting gathered some 300 scientists and other stakeholders, and was attended by European Commissioner Philippe Busquin. Its aim was to demonstrate the support of the scientific community for an ERC and establish the general principles that should govern its actions. |
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| Venice
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| A second meeting, hosted in Venice (Italy) by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science in Europe, convened 60 prominent scientists along with representatives from the EC, funding organisations and the European Science Foundation to draw concrete plans as to the research grants that should be allocated, the support for infrastructures and centres of excellence, and the delivery mechanisms of the ERC. |
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| Dublin |
| As there was a consensus that the ERC should cover all disciplines, from physics and mathematics to the social sciences and humanities, there was also a need to ensure coherence between the various disciplines to avoid scientific communities, other than the life sciences, becoming disconnected from the planning of the ERC. Indeed, it was important for European scientists to speak with one voice on this matter. ELSF and EUROSCIENCE therefore decided to join forces to organise an interdisciplinary meeting entitled “A European Research Council for All Sciences” in Dublin in October 2003. |
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