Today, the European Commission announced the establishment of a high-level committee to identify new members for the European Research Council’s (ERC) governing body, the ERC Scientific Council. This Identification Committee, comprising six leading scientists, will oversee the renewal of the ERC Scientific Council. This process is part of the preparations for Horizon Europe 2028-2034, the EU’s forthcoming funding programme for research and innovation. The Committee consists of six highly respected European research scientists:
- Martin Vetterli (chair), Honorary Professor and President Emeritus EPFL, Switzerland
- Paula Eerola, Research Council of Finland
- Heino Falcke, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Katerina Harvati, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Dept. of Geosciences & Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenviroments, Germany
- Andres Metspalu, University of Tartu, Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), Institute of Genomics (IG), Estonia
- Maria Rescigno, Research Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM), Austria
Background
The European Research Council (ERC), set up by the European Commission in 2007, awards grants through open competitions to projects headed by starting and established researchers, irrespective of their origins, who are working or moving to work in Europe. The sole criterion for selection is scientific excellence.
The Scientific Council, the independent governing body of the ERC, defines the ERC’s scientific funding strategy and methodologies. It is composed of 22 members, all eminent scientists and scholars, who represent the scientific community in Europe. New Scientific Council members are appointed by the European Commission following recommendations by an independent Identification Committee within a procedure that is independent, transparent, and agreed upon with the Scientific Council. This process includes a consultation of the scientific community.
Since 2021, the Scientific Council has been chaired by ERC President Prof. Maria Leptin, who leads and represents the Council.
