About us

The Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) has been launched in the wake of the ongoing debate regarding the establishment of a European Research Council (ERC). This debate, which was largely initiated by the scientific community, aims to create a new instrument to foster and fund basic research of the highest quality in all scientific disciplines, including the social sciences and the humanities, at the European level. Since the European Science Foundation (ESF) established a High Level Expert Group under Sir Richard Sykes in April 2002 and a seminal conference was organized by the Danish EU Presidency in October 2002, several groups have taken the debate further. The ESF High Level Group released their report in April 2003 and the Expert Group, established by the Danish EU Presidency under the chairmanship of Federico Mayor, published their report in December 2003. Position papers have also been produced by the European Life Sciences Forum (ELSF), EUROSCIENCE, the European University Association (EUA), ALLEA and others. In addition, several conferences and meetings have been devoted to the subject.

During the last months, progress towards establishing an ERC has been remarkable and the project is now at a stage of being discussed at the highest political level in Europe. The European Commission published a first communication on basic research in January 2004, and several ministers participated in a symposium on this topic organized by the Irish EU Presidency in Dublin in February 2004. A second communication by the European Commission ìScience and technology, the key to Europe‘s future" has been released in June 2004. As a whole, these activities have highlighted an emerging consensus on the need to support basic research of the highest quality. One of the conclusions of the meeting of Heads of State and Government in March 2004 illustrates this consensus:

"The European Council sees merit in enhanced support for basic research of the highest quality and the case for specific funding will be examined. It awaits with interest a proposal from the European Commission which may include the possibility of setting up a Research Council".

At a Conference to discuss the ERC organized by ELSF and EUROSCIENCE in Dublin last November, representatives of many scientific fields in Europe appointed a group, referred to as the ISE Group, to co-ordinate and prepare follow-up actions. The Group was asked to maintain the momentum of the debate and to ensure that the views of the broad scientific community would be heard in the official debate so that proper solutions be found and disadvantageous compromises avoided. Indeed, having an ERC without the full support and involvement of the scientific community is unthinkable.

The Group adopted the name "Initiative for Science in Europe" (ISE) and organized, together with members of the European Parliament, a meeting on 23/24 February 2004 in Brussels to consolidate the views of the scientific community on the ERC and to initiate a wider debate with the European Commission, national government representatives and Members of the European Parliament.

The Conference demonstrated immense support for an ERC and much consensus on important aspects of its tasks, funding and organization. However, there is still a long way to go before the ERC becomes a reality. A renewed and enlarged European Parliament, and the appointment of a new Commission for a larger EU with greater disparities in many areas will lead to new actors, new responsibilities, new debates and possibly new policies. Moreover, serious negotiations on the financial perspectives of the EU for 2007-2013 are just about to begin.

It is of the utmost importance that the scientific community continues to argue for and is involved in developing the best possible model for an ERC. Many issues still need to be resolved, in particular those related to its independence, composition and mandate. There is also a danger that some governments will cut national research budgets if an ERC is established: the well-known ìget your money in Brusselsî attitude is all too familiar. This question must be addressed as well.

Given the above considerations the ISE Group feels that the scientific community must speak now, and with a common voice. A primary objective is the establishment of an ERC to meet the requirements and expectations of its consumer-base, the scientists. Strengthening Europeís science base involves, however, many other issues. Therefore, the Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) is intended to become a platform of European learned societies and scientific organizations whose aim is to promote mechanisms to support basic science at a European level, involve scientists in the design and implementation of European science policies, and to advocate strong independent scientific advice in European policy making.