About: European Research Council
Multi-million EU research grants stir debate in Italy
A scathing article critising the generous grants allocated by the European Research Council (ERC) appeared in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Sunday (5 January), reviving a long-running debate in Italy over the poor state of the country's research.
How frontier research could be the answer to a more sustainable future
More frequent extreme weather events, increasing political nationalism and growing economic inequality are making sustainable development goals harder to achieve. EURACTIV looked at the work of four frontier researchers to explore how a more sustainable future could look like.
Frontier researchers to benefit from new Horizon 2020, despite looming budget cuts
As member states are locked into negotiations over the next EU budget, research has become an easy target for cuts. Meanwhile, EU-funded scientists urge that frontier research is becoming more important than ever with new challenges ahead.
ERC president: Brains should become main resource of Europe
Instead of funding 'business as usual'-research, the need to take a long-term perspective is crucial for innovative solutions, but that is often difficult to accept for policymakers, the head of a top European research agency told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Planet discoverer calls for ‘strong promotion’ of EU research
The researcher behind Trappist-1, a system of planets that could contain life, and Innovation Commissioner Carlos Moedas talked to EURACTIV.com about the importance of EU support. They also played down a PR war with NASA that erupted when the discovery was first made public.
Moedas: ‘We need to shout’ to sell our discoveries
The EU needs to be “bolder” and “shout” to promote its own scientific achievements to counter the PR tactics of partners like the US, Commissioner for Research Carlos Moedas said on Monday (21 March).
Moedas: Europe’s industries have to go digital
Europe has a good industrial basis, with strong traditional sectors. But EU countries are “not making the merge with the digital world,” warns Carlos Moedas, saying the transition will be “the most crucial area for getting it right or wrong for Europe”.
Research Council chief: More cash, less change for Horizon 2020
Under the European Commission’s new proposal for funding the eighth framework programme – Horizon 2020 – the European Research Council (ERC) is set to see a 77% boost in funds to €13.2 billion. ERC President Helga Nowotny tells EURACTIV that Horizon represents a validation of its success.Top researchers fear ‘radical shift’ in EU policy
Scientists at Europe's leading research universities have expressed concern over the growing trend towards linking EU funding with pre-defined outcomes. Researchers fear political priorities will curb their scope for creativity and free thinking.
European Research Council slams EU bureaucracy
The work of Europe's scientific funding body has been marred by ongoing tensions with the European Commission and "stupid" bureaucratic rules, agency representatives have told MEPs.
Experts give European Research Council passing grade
Europe's fledgling scientific funding body is on the right track but has major organisational flaws which threaten its long-term viability, according to a no-nonsense analysis by a panel of experts.