An independent Identification Committee set up by the European Commission has begun the search for potential candidates for membership of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC). Nominations are accepted until 30 September 2020.
ERC Scientific Council members are appointed by the Commission on the basis of recommendations of the Identification Committee. The Committee is now directly asking the main representative organisations of the European research community through consultation letters for nominations of suitable candidates. However, it also welcomes nominations from other organisations representing European research.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Research, Innovation, Culture, Education and Youth, said:
“The ERC has become a powerhouse for excellent research not least because its Scientific Council is composed of some of the most eminent European scientists and scholars. I look forward to seeing new candidates nominated for these prominent posts, with a view to the excellence and scientific coverage needed at the Scientific Council and a balance in terms of gender and geography. We have many outstanding researchers in all parts of Europe, and this should also be reflected in the nominations.”
Members of the Scientific Council are appointed for a four-year term of office, renewable once. The current identification exercise will help identify members of the ERC Scientific Council who will come into office at the start of Horizon Europe, the next EU research and innovation programme, in 2021 and contribute to a pool of candidates for future replacements of members.
More information, including on how to nominate, is provided in the Statement on Methodology and the Statement of Qualifications.
Background
The Scientific Council, the 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.
