ERC in the Press

ERC President stresses the importance of investment in research on Austrian TV

ORF TVthek

21 March, 2013

ERC President Helga Nowotny made an appearance on the Austrian talkshow Inside Brüssel, where she commented on the current EU budget negotiations for the research budget, and the role of research and innovation in development aid.

In a roundtable with EU Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Thomas Stelzer, and several journalists, Prof. Nowotny stressed the importance of investment in education, research and innovation. She mentions that investing in those areas is not only important for third countries, but also for the EU Member States that are hit hardest by the economic crisis.

ERC President gave an update on the on-going EU budget negotiations, stating that the current budget plans for research and innovation were not as severe as she feared it would be.

Prof. Nowotny concluded that it is necessary to raise awareness on the enormous potential of science. By gaining the people's understanding and involving them in a constant dialogue, she hopes to fulfil what she calls a “duty” to give citizens a complete picture of the promising perspectives offered by science.

"ERC goes global" campaign in India

Various media

15 March, 2013

From 8 to 16 March, ERC Secretary-General Donald Dingwell visited India to inform researchers about ERC funding opportunities in Europe (see ERC press release).

He was accompanied by Indian ERC grant holder Dr Ramesh Pillai (see ERC story).

A press conference attended by a dozen journalists was organised in New Delhi in the course of the visit. Articles were notably published in The Indian Times, The Telegraph India and Deccan Herald.

The visit was part of the "ERC goes global" awareness-raising campaign launched last year.

Vienna Event Aims to Help Eastern Scientists Compete for European Grants

Science

8 March, 2013

Science journalist Elisabeth Pain reports on the ERC "widening participation" event that took place in Vienna on 28 February and 1 March 2013 (see ERC highlight).

This ERC pilot initiative aimed to encourage researchers from Central and Eastern Europe to apply for ERC funding, since relatively few of them have been awarded ERC grants up to now.

In her article, she mentions the reasons behind this underrepresentation and quotes ERC President Helga Nowotny. She also shares "tips" given at the conference to boost applications from Central and Eastern Europe’s applicants.

The event was also covered by other media, such as the Austrian press agency APA or the Czech newspaper Lidové Noviny.

$3m prizes from internet titans for disease research

BBC

20 February, 2013

ERC Advanced grantee Hans Clevers is the only EU-based researcher to get a Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. He was rewarded for describing how problems in signalling molecules can cause cancer.

Launched this year, the Breakthrough Prizes in Life Sciences recognise excellence in research aimed at curing intractable diseases and extending human life. They were founded by some of the world's richest internet entrepreneurs, including Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg. 11 disease researchers were awarded $3 million each (around €2.3 million). 9 of the recipients are based at US institutions.

EU research budget 'faces 12% cut'

The Irish Times

17 February, 2013

The Irish Times journalist Dick Ahlstrom interviewed ERC President Helga Nowotny at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Boston.

Helga Nowotny commented on the EU's overall research budget that could be cut by 12 per cent unless agreement is reached on protecting it.

With Subra Suresh, Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), they gave an update on a joint programme that will see US research scientists moving to Europe to spend up to a year in EU research centres. There had been a very strong response with 760 offers from ERC grantees to receive a visiting researcher from the US (see ERC highlight).

At AAAS annual meeting, the ERC President also participated in a scientific session Converging on Climate Change with three ERC grantees. British newspaper The Guardian reported on the cutting-edge projects funded by the ERC in this field.

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