The ERC Scientific Council will visit Berlin from 16 to 18 October in the context of its next plenary meeting. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research will host the meeting, as well as a high-level event on research excellence with German Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger and ERC President Maria Leptin, followed by a press briefing. There will also be a gathering with ERC grantees in the Berlin area.

This is the first time that the ERC’s governing body convenes in Berlin since the launch of the ERC, which took place in Berlin under the German Presidency of the Council of the EU in February 2007, in the presence of the then Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The visit is an opportunity for ERC President Maria Leptin and the Scientific Council to meet with representatives of government, academia and industry, as well as ERC-funded researchers. Prior to the plenary session, a high-level event on research excellence will take place. It will be an opportunity to discuss current and future cooperation in research and innovation in Europe. Speakers include Bettina Stark-Watzinger, German Federal Minister of Education and Research, Maria Leptin, President of the ERC, Patrick Cramer, President of the Max Planck Society, Prof. Stephan Seiter, member of the German Bundestag, Kerstin Maria Pahl, Board member of Die Junge Akademie, and Iris Plöger, Executive Board member of the Federation of German Industries. Ina Czyborra, Berlin Senator for Higher Education and Research, Health and Long-Term Care, will open the event and there will also be a video message from European Commissioner Iliana Ivanova.

Media is invited to attend the high-level event, after which a press briefing with the ERC President and the Minister will follow.

There will also be a gathering with ERC grantees, Senator Ina Czyborra, as well as President Maria Leptin and ERC Scientific Council members.

In this context there will furthermore be a visit to the exhibition “Elephantine – Island of the Millennia” at the James Simon Gallery in cooperation with ERC grantee Prof. Verena Lepper.

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