About us

The Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) is intended as a platform of European scientific organisations whose aim is to promote mechanisms in support of basic science at a European level, involve scientists in the design and implementation of European science policies, and advocate strong independent scientific advice in European policy making. ISE was initially created to facilitate debate surrounding the establishment of a European Research Council (ERC), an instrument to foster and fund basic research of the highest quality in all scientific disciplines at European level. At an ERC Conference organised by the European Life Sciences Forum (ELSF) and EuroScience in Dublin in November 2004, representatives of many scientific fields in Europe decided to establish the Initiative in order to consolidate and voice the views of the scientific community on the ERC, and initiate a wider debate with the European Commission, national government representatives and Members of the European Parliament.

ISE is now widely recognised for having played an instrumental role in the creation of the ERC, notably through its lobbying of the European Institutions, the organisation of conferences and the publication of policy documents.

Since it's foundation in January 2007 the ERC (http://erc.europa.eu/index.cfm) is one of the major and most successful items of the EU Framework Programme 7, the focus of ISE is now on research infrastructure. The first President of ISE was Jose Mariano Gago, currently Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education and one of the initiators of concept of European Research Area (ERA). Its current President is Federico Mayor, former Director General of UNESCO.