Mr Neil Williams Head of the Physical and Engineering Sciences Unit

1. Mr Neil Williams Head of the Physical and Engineering Sciences Unit

2. The ESF Mission Mission The ESF provides a common platform for its Member Organisationsin order to: • Advance European research • Explore new directions for research at the European level Through its activities, the ESF serves the needs of the European research community in the broadest context • Values • Excellence • Openness • Responsiveness • Pan European • Ethical awareness and human values PESC Intro

3. Science Needs Europe • 80 Member Organisations in 30 countries, beyond the European Union • Research funding organisations • Research performing organisations • Academies PESC Intro

4. ESF in ERA • Securing a place in an ERA (European Research Area) that is changing and evolving rapidly is a key challenge • ESF will play a complementary role to the European Research Council (ERC) by focusing on Member Organisation co-ordination • A strengthened focus on researcher-led science will further enhance ESF’s place in the ERA PESC Intro

5. Three decades of science • Established 1974 • Not-for-profit organisation under French (Alsace) law • Offices in Strasbourg, Brussels and Ostend • Staff : ~ 100 • Finances : ~ 30M€ pa • Networked funds: ~1.3B€ PESC Intro

6. Organisation Ministerial Conference Assembly GoverningCouncil Committee of SeniorOfficials (CSO) Science Advisory Board CEO COSTOffice Administration & Finance Human Resources Communications ESF SCIENTIFICSTANDING COMMITTEES ESF EXPERT COMMITTEESAND BOARDS ESF RESEARCHCONFERENCES COSTDOMAIN COMMITTEES • HumanitiesSCH • Life, Earth and Environmental SciencesLESC • Medical SciencesEMRC • Physical and Engineering SciencesPESC • Social SciencesSCSS • Marine Board - ESFMB-ESF • European Polar BoardEPB • European Space Sciences CommitteeESSC • Committee on Radio Astronomy FrequenciesCRAF • Nuclear Physics European Collaboration CommitteeNuPECC • Biomedicine & Molecular Biosciences • Chemistry & Molecular Sciences & Technologies • Earth System Science & Environmental Management • Food & Agriculture • Forests, their Products & Services • Individuals, Society, Culture & Health • Information & Com-munication Technologies • Materials, Physics & Nanosciences • Transport & Urban Development Strasbourg Offices Brussels Offices PESC Intro

7. Scientific Domains STANDING COMMITTEES • Physical and Engineering Sciences • Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences • Medical Sciences • Humanities • Social Sciences PESC Intro

8. Scientific Domains Expert Boards & Committees • Marine Science • Materials Science and Engineering • Nuclear Physics • Space Sciences • Polar Science • Radio Astronomy Frequencies PESC Intro

9. The Main Activities • Science Strategy • Science Networking • Science Management PESC Intro

10. Science Strategy Foresight and Advice • Forward Looks • Member Organisations Fora • Policy Briefings • Exploratory Workshops PESC Intro

11. Forward Looks • Medium - long term scientific perspectives • Multidisciplinary topics viewed from a European level • Brings together scientists and policy makers from ESF Member Organisations • Wide consultation • Major reports and action plans should result PESC Intro

12. Forward Looks • No Closing Dates: suggestions to ESF Committees • Suggestions developed with MOs • Approved by Science Advisory Board and Governing Council • ~k€250 each over 2 years • Examples: • NanoScience and IT • Computational Sciences • Mathematics and Industry; • Perspectives for Nuclear Physics in Europe PESC Intro

13. MO Fora • Output-oriented foci for MOs, involving others as appropriate to develop joint actions • Actions: to benefit MOs strategy development and/or lead to the development of: Best practices; Common procedures; Cooperative activities • Time limited activities (two years) • Peer Review, Programme Evaluation, Research Careers, Research Integrity, Research Infrastructures PESC Intro

14. Policy briefings • Address selected science policy issues of key concern to the Foundation’s Member Organisations and the wider scientific community • By drawing on the advice and expertise of the ESF’s membership, the briefings aim both to provide information and to promote discussion PESC Intro

15. Networking Instruments PESC Intro

16. Exploratory Workshops • Normally one-off specialist meetings • ‘Quality AND Novelty’ for topics • ‘Bottom-up’ through Open Call • Occasionally ‘top-down’ on key topics • May lead to ESF or other à la carte programmes; FP proposals; position statements, etc • 25-30 scientists involved • Issues and participation at European level PESC Intro

17. Exploratory Workshops • Annual Call • Early March to late April 2010 • Decision By November • Workshops in 2011 • 200-300 proposals per Call • 40 awards for 2010 Workshops • 5-7 in PESC • Awards: max 15000 €/meeting • Co-funding welcome PESC Intro

18. Research Conferences • High profile framework for scientific discussion on frontline topics • Bring together younger and established leaders • Partnerships with others in Europe • ESF World Conferences: Japan, US, China, International Partners • 100-200 participants • Limited number of attractive venues PESC Intro

19. Research Conferences • Themed partnerships • Potential conference chairs submit proposals within a partnership theme • Max award 40k€ plus co-funding • 30-40 per year • Call mid January – mid September 2010 for conferences in 2012 PESC Intro

20. Research Networking Programmes • Coordination of major pre-funded research activities over four/five-year period • Supported by ESF Member Organisations through à la carte funding • Typically include workshops, inter-laboratory exchanges, fellowship programmes and dissemination • ‘Core’ Steering Group of 8-12 scientists ~ one per participating country • May link to other initiatives • Financing normally €100k - €130k per annum PESC Intro

21. Research Networking Programmes • Annual Call • Call open early July – late October 2010 • RNPs starting 1 January 2012 • Research Quality and added value of European networking • 10-15 launched per year • 50-60 total – > 50% in PESC • Success rates 10-15% • Can include non-ESF MO funders PESC Intro

22. EUROCORES(EUROpean COllaborative RESearch) • To provide European critical mass in specific topics • Multilateral funding collaboration: national but ‘networked’ • Variable geometry • International peer review essential • ~ 30 Programmes ~ 65+ agencies ~ 180 projects ~130M€+ • 8 current in PESC plus 2 new proposed to MOs PESC Intro

23. EUROCORES(EUROpean COllaborative RESearch) • Annual Call for Themes • Call Open mid March - late May 2010 • Quality selected and financially viable themes launched as Programmes by Calls for proposals in December 2010 • Research projects start March 2012 • Typical duration 3-4 years PESC Intro

24. EUROCORES(EUROpean COllaborative RESearch) • 5-6 new Programme Calls a year. • CRPs (Projects) – single science case with minimum 3 eligible PIs from 3 participating countries. • Two step assessment procedure. • Launch of CRP dependant on high ranking AND availability of national funds. • ESF provides coordination of programmes and networking between (not within) CRPs. PESC Intro

25. ESF-PES Coordinates Physical & Engineering Sciences Unit European Science Foundation1 quai Lezay-MarnésiaBP9001567080 Strasbourg cedexFrance +33 3 88 76 71 07 www.esf.org/pesc PESC Intro