Science Europe Holds Founding Assembly
On October 21, a day after the European Heads of Research Councils (EuroHORCs) dissolved, Science Europe held its founding assembly in Berlin. Fifty funding agencies from over 23 European nations attended this assembly, where bylaws were adopted and leaders were elected.
Science Europe replaces EuroHORCs, a representative body for scientific research interests at an international level. In May, a proposed merger of the European Science Foundation (ESF) and EuroHORCs narrowly failed to pass an ESF vote. The ESF plans to responsibly shut down in the upcoming years, leaving Science Europe as the primary voice for scientific research in European policy-making.
Science Europe aims to bring together research-performing and research-funding organizations across Europe in order to shift science policymaking power from the European Commission into the hands of European scientists. Science Europe hopes to build the European Research Area, which would allow scientists to move funding freely within the European Union.
Supporters of the ESF fear that Science Europe will focus too much on policy strategies rather than on research efforts that the ESF supports. The ESF currently provides direct funding of European research collaborations, which is essential for young scientists. For more information, visit www.scienceeurope.org or www.esf.org.
December 2011 Table of Contents