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Frontier Research to Get Major Boost with European Research Center
The creation of the European Research Council marks a milestone in European research policy, Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a launch conference in Berlin organized by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the EU Presidency framework on February 27. Over 1 billion euros a year will flow into research projects through the ERC, the first pan-European funding body set up to support investigator-driven frontier research. The center defines frontier research as “fundamental advances at and beyond the ‘frontier’ of knowledge.”
Predicting something of a “Champions League” of European research projects, Chancellor Merkel stressed the center’s focus on excellence and its independence. Basic research is unpredictable and should not be put under the pressure of immediate expectations. “We know that excellence can be fostered through policy, through framework guidelines,” Merkel said. “But policy must not constrict the inventive talent, the pioneer spirit of scientists. We have to accept that they be allowed room.” Along with Chancellor Merkel, Research Minister Annette Schavan and EU Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik as well as Angelika Niebler, Member of the European Parliament, opened the conference at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. The ERC’s overall budget for the period 2007-2013 amounts to 7.5 billion euros. Through the center, the area of basic research is now given much greater attention: while funding of such frontier research was previously a task for the member states, it is now gaining special importance at European level because the ERC has been established as an important part of the EU's Seventh Research Framework Programme. In addition, the ERC will identify and support young researchers with the Starting Independent Researcher Grants. February 28, 2007 Links
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