The ERC Scientific Council in the UK

The ERC Scientific Council gathers in Durham for its next plenary meeting 23-25 June. This is the first time the ERC governing body convenes in the UK since the ERC was set up by the EU in 2007. Hosted by the University of Durham, the visit is an opportunity for the Scientific Council to meet ERC grantees and the research community, as well as policy-makers, in addition to its plenary session.

The visit includes a roundtable with Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation Lord Vallance (participating remotely), Vice Chancellors of the Northern England region (N8), representatives from UK funding bodies -  British Academy, Royal Academy, UKRI -  and the ERC Scientific Council.

Lord Vallance said: `As the UK’s stellar performance in last week’s Advanced Grant announcement showed, ERC funding, through our association to Horizon Europe, is vitally important to more and more of the ambitious research that’s happening the length and breadth of Britain. It is brilliant that the ERC Scientific Council has seen some of that world-class work, first-hand, in Durham. I look forward to continuing to work with the Council closely to maximise the opportunities that Horizon presents, for us all.`

ERC President Professor Maria Leptin commented: `The UK is a star performer in science and now we can note that, after a hiatus, the country is right back in the lead in the ERC grant competitions. The UK remains a very attractive place for top researchers from near and afar. For this plenary meeting of the ERC Scientific Council, we are hosted at Durham University, where we have met inspiring researchers and seen cutting-edge science.`

 The visit also includes a seminar with grantees showcasing their research, as well as a tour of some laboratories and facilities of grantees in Durham. Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University Professor Karen O’Brien said: `Durham University research is transforming lives and making a difference globally, nationally, and locally. We have many successful partnerships with European researchers, projects, and universities. This is a very special visit by the ERC’s Scientific Council to Durham. ERC funding plays a critical role in allowing Durham and other UK universities to advance scientific discovery and collaborate across borders.`

So far, some 2 230 ERC grants have been awarded in the UK, worth over EUR 4 billion. In the recently announced ERC Advanced Grant call, UK-based researchers won 56 grants (followed by researchers in Germany (35), Italy (25), the Netherlands (24) and France (23)).

The ERC Scientific Council, led by Maria Leptin, comprises 22 eminent scientists and scholars, including Professor Harriet Bulkeley from Durham University’s Department of Geography.