ERC Scientific Council holds first plenary meeting in France
The European Research Council (ERC) has begun the second day of a three-day visit to Strasbourg.
Invited by the University of Strasbourg, it is the first time that the ERC Scientific Council is holding a plenary meeting in France, and the trip is being seen as an opportunity to engage with the research community in this region. The visit will also be a chance for the members of the ERC’s governing body to meet with cross-regional and local stakeholders.
Commenting on the visit, ERC President Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon said: “I am delighted to be in Strasbourg together with the ERC Scientific Council to engage with the very active local and regional research community and with policy makers.
“France has fared well in the ERC competitions, which shows that it has a strong research base with a great deal of scientific talent eager to develop bright and ambitious ideas. Applicants having a host institution in France have consistently one of the highest success rates in the ERC calls.”
Also taking place during the visit is an event especially for researchers on the ERC. The seminar, which will take place on 3 June at the University of Strasbourg, will provide details to those interested in applying for ERC funding. During the session, the ERC delegation will meet the research community from the Upper Rhine region in France and Germany to explain the attractive ERC funding opportunities. ERC grant holders will also be in attendance to share their experience.
Providing his thoughts, Professor Alain Beretz, the president of the University of Strasbourg, welcomed the meeting with the ERC that was taking place following the announcement that the budgets of the ERC and of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions would not be affected by the implementation of the European Fund for Strategic Investments.
Beretz, who is also chairman of the League of European Research Universities, said: “French research universities and LERU are particularly pleased with that announcement”.
The visit concludes on Wednesday.
