European Science Foundation
Encyclopedia
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries. It is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation that facilitates cooperation and collaboration in European research and development, European science policy and science strategy. It was established in 1974. The ESF offices are in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(headquarters), and in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
The ESF Member Organisations are research-performing and research-funding organisations, academies and learned societies across Europe. Together they represent an annual funding of about €25 billion.
The European Science Foundation awards the annual European Latsis Prize
European Latsis Prize
The European Latsis Prize is awarded annually by the European Science Foundation for "outstanding and innovative contributions in a selected field of European research". The prize is worth 100,000 Swiss francs and is awarded within a different discipline each year...
.
Activities
The ESF provides a platform for foresighting and research networking on a European and global scale to the ESF member organisations. The ESF activities are organised around three operational bases: strategy, synergy and management. According to its mission and strategic plan, the European Science Foundation runs foresighting programmes in science; programmes to enhance science synergy such as research networking programmes and collaborative research projects for European scientists; and activities dedicated to science management, such as providing administrative services to independent scientific committees and other organisations.Science strategy
Science strategy activities seek to foresight and advice on science, research infrastructure and science policy issues. They include:- Forward Looks are medium to long-term authoritative studies on science perspectives in broad areas of research and development. Forward Look reports assists policy makers and researchers in defining optimal research agendas and in setting priorities. Examples of completed Forward Look exercises include Investigator clinical trials, European food systems in a changing world, and Nanosciences and the Long Term Evolution of Information Technology.
- Exploratory Workshops are small group sessions aimed at opening up new directions of research and exploring emerging frontier areas with potential impact on new developments in science. The workshops have wide participation from across Europe and involve leading scientists as well as young and independent researchers. In 2008 ESF organised 54 Exploratory Workshops across all fields of science and humanities.
- Members Organisations Fora are issue-related venues for the ESF Member Organisations (and others as appropriate) to develop joint actions on topics of broad relevance. These actions may lead to establishing common procedures, cooperative activities or best practices and benchmarks. Currently, there are 7 ongoing MO Fora, 2 Fora have been completed:
- Research Integrity
- Peer Review
- Research Careers
- Medium-Sized Research Infrastructures
- Science in Society Relationship
- Evaluation of Publicly Funded Research
- Evaluation: Indicators of Internalisation
- Evaluation of Funding Schemes and Research Programmes(Completed)
- Promoting Internalisation of Social Sciences in Central and Eastern Europe(Completed)
- Science Policy Briefings deliver position statements and recommendations on various science policy issues (e.g. ethical use of animals in research, the use of human cells). The reports are intended to target the ESF stakeholders, governments, European Commission, other international agencies, industry and academia. Recent SPBs include Impacts of Ocean Acidification, and Advancing Systems Biology for Medical Applications
- The EUROHORCs and ESF Vision on a Globally Competitive ERA and their Road Map for Actions to Help Build it, which set out joint EUROHORCs and the ESF vision for future globally competitive European Research Area (ERA) European Research AreaThe European Research Area is a system of scientific research programmes integrating the scientific resources of the European Union . Since its inception in 2000, the structure has been concentrated on multi-national co-operation in the fields of medical, environmental, industrial and...
and the essential requirements to be fulfilled within the next 5–10 years.
Science synergy
Science synergy instruments aim to stipulate dialogue and cooperation between researchers, and to implement European-level research:- EUROCORES (European Collaborative Research scheme) enable researchers in different European countries to develop collaboration in areas where European scale and scope are required. For national research funding and research performing agencies EUROCORES makes it possible to support transnational research project involving several partners by synchronising funding decisions at national level. It also enables to develop collaborative research in areas of common strategic priority. EUROCORES programmes consist of around six collaborative research projects working on subtopics of the main theme. It is a bottom-up programme where research topics and other issues are identified by scientists. The programmes have so far generated hundreds of peer reviewed publications including articles in high-impact journals such as Science and Nature. Recent research achievements include:
- William Patterson, from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, and his colleagues have shown that switching off the North Atlantic circulation can force the Northern hemisphere into a mini ‘ice age’ in a matter of months. Previous work has indicated that this process would take tens of years.(BOREAS (Histories from the North - environments, movements, narratives)),
- Research findings of researchers involved in OMLL (Origin of Man, Language and Languages) programme confirmed that early humans were consistently wearing and potentially trading symbolic jewellery as early as 80,000 years ago. The results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA
- Research Networking Programmes (RNP) are 4-5 year network projects, accompanied by exchange grants and short term visits for scientists. They allow networking and international collaboration between nationally funded research groups. Research achievements include that RNP European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA), received in 2008 the Descartes PrizeDescartes PrizeThe Descartes Prize is an annual award in science given by the European Union, named in honour of the French mathematician and philosopher, René Descartes....
for Research. The project showed that the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are higher now than at any time in the past 650,000 years - ESF Research Conferences are a conference series on selected topics together with a European partner as co-funder. The instrument activities also include world conferences (ESF-JSPS Frontier Science Conferences for Young Researchers) and series of summer and winter schools providing advanced scientific training in physics. The ESF Research Conferences currently cover: biomedicine, chemistry, environmental sciences, humanities, interdisciplinary natural and social sciences, mathematics, molecular biology at the interface with other disciplines, physics/biophysics, social sciences. In 2008 there were 26 conferences organised by the ESF.
The ESF conferences unit is located in Brussels with a liaison base in Strasbourg.
Science management
Science management activities include management of the EU Framework Programme ERA-NETs scheme and provision of the management structure and administration for the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COSTCost
In production, research, retail, and accounting, a cost is the value of money that has been used up to produce something, and hence is not available for use anymore. In business, the cost may be one of acquisition, in which case the amount of money expended to acquire it is counted as cost. In this...
).
The ESF managed ERA-NETs involve (among others) also European Research Icebreaker Consortium –AURORA BOREALIS
Research Icebreaker Aurora Borealis
Research Icebreaker Aurora Borealis is a project to build "the most advanced icebreaker in the world" by a consortium of fifteen parties.from ten European nations....
(ERICON-AB), a project to build the most advanced research vessel in the world, with year-round operational capability and state-of-the-art technology and laboratory equipment. The ESF European Polar Board is managing and coordinating authority of the project.
Position paper on climate change
In 2007, the Marine Board-ESF issued a position paper on climate changeClimate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
in which they stated, "There is now convincing evidence that since the industrial revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, human activities, resulting in increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases have become a major agent of climate change. These greenhouse gases affect the global climate by retaining heat in the troposphere
Troposphere
The troposphere is the lowest portion of Earth's atmosphere. It contains approximately 80% of the atmosphere's mass and 99% of its water vapor and aerosols....
, thus raising the average temperature of the planet and altering global atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns." The paper concluded, "While on-going national and international actions to curtail and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are essential, the levels of greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere
Atmosphere
An atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low...
, and their impact, are likely to persist for several decades. On-going and increased efforts to mitigate climate change through reduction in greenhouse gases are therefore crucial."
ESF-EUROHORCs vision on European Research Area
In June 2008, ESF in collaboration with EUROHORCs (European Heads of Research Councils) published a policy briefing ‘The EUROHORCs and ESF Vision on a Globally Competitive ERA and their Road Map for Actions to Help Build it’, detailing essential requirements to build a globally competitive European Research AreaEuropean Research Area
The European Research Area is a system of scientific research programmes integrating the scientific resources of the European Union . Since its inception in 2000, the structure has been concentrated on multi-national co-operation in the fields of medical, environmental, industrial and...
within the next five to ten years. These requirements are complemented by a Road Map which outlines concrete actions for EUROHORCs, ESF member organisations and partners.
The plan would merge the informal EUROHORCS organization of national research council chiefs with the ESF to create a high-profile lobbying organization called Science Europe. The plan was intended to remedy the situation that, while the national research councils that EUROHORCS represents 85% of Europe's research funding, science policy is being made mainly by the European Union rather than the national councils. The plan would also end the direct granting program of the ESF, which has a modest annual budget of around €50 million to fund cross-border, curiosity-driven research projects. The plan was criticized for ending the grating program and for excluding some current member organizations from the new, merged organization. On May 4, 2011, two proposed merger plans failed in a set of votes of the ESF general assembly; one proposal missed a needed two-thirds supermajority by a few votes, while the other which needed a simple majority failed by a wider margin.
Structure
The ESF networking, foresighting and managing activities are carried through 5 scientific standing committees and 6 expert boards and committees:- European Medical Research Councils (EMRC)
- Standing Committee for the Humanities (SCH)
- Standing Committee for the Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences(LESC)
- Standing Committee for Physical and Engineering Sciences (PESC)
- Standing Committee for the Social Sciences (SCSS)
- Marine Board - ESF(http://www.esf.org/research-areas/marine-board.html)
- European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC)
- European Polar Board (EPB)
- Committee on Radio Astronomy Frenquencies (CRAF)
- Nuclear Physics European Collaboration Committee (NuPECC)
- Material Science and Engineering Expert Committee (MatSEEC)
The ESF science units provide executive, managerial and secretarial functions for the standing committees and expert boards and committees:
- Humanities unit
- Medical sciences unit
- Life, Earth and environmental sciences unit
- Physical and engineering sciences unit
- Social sciences unit
- Space sciences unit
- Polar sciences unit
- Marine sciences unit (located in Ostend)
The activities of ESF science units are coordinated by ESF director of science and strategy development. Under his remit fall also science policy and science strategy issues. Since February 2009 the ESF director of science and strategy development is Marc Heppener.
Governing bodies
The annual assembly is the highest level decision making body of the ESF. It elects the ESF president, vice-presidents and the chief executive, ratifies the budget and accounts and admits new members. The assembly delegates are appointed by ESF member organisations.The Governing Council sets and direct the overall strategy of the ESF. It establishes standing and expert committees and coordinates the relations with EU and other institutions. The council consists of the ESF president, two vice-presidents and a representative from each 'national group' of member organisations. The council meets twice a year.
The president officially represents the ESF to the public and in relations with other national or international organisations. Currently the ESF president is Ian Halliday, serving his second term in the office (2009–2011).
The chief executive is responsible for the implementation of the strategy and policy set by the Governing Council, for administration of the ESF office and its finance and for ensuring the execution of the decision of the assembly and the Governing Council. At present the ESF chief executive is Marja Makarow.
The Science Advisory Board provides advices to the chief executive on strategic science issues and on key ESF instruments (EUROCORES, Forward Looks). It is composed of chairs of the ESF five standing committees and six independent members, who are chosen from nominations by member organisations.
ESF Member Organisations
Austria- Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung in Österreich (FWF)(Austrian Science FundAustrian Science FundThe Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung is the most important Austrian funding organization for basic research. The FWF supports research in science, engineering, and the humanities through a large variety of grant programmes, prizes and by funding infrastructure...
) - Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW)(Austrian Academy of SciencesAustrian Academy of SciencesThe Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
)
Belgium
- Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS)(National Fund for Scientific Research)
- Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-Vlaanderen (FWO)(Research Foundation Flanders)
Bulgaria
- Българска академия на науките (BAS)(Bulgarian Academy of SciencesBulgarian Academy of SciencesThe Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
) - Научни изследвания (National Science Fund of Bulgaria)
Croatia
- Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti (HAZU)(Croatian Academy of Sciences and ArtsCroatian Academy of Sciences and ArtsThe Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Croatia. It was founded in 1866 as the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts , and was known by that name for most of its existence.- History :...
) - Nacionalna zaklada za znanost, visoko skolstvo i tehnologijski razvoj Republike Hrvatske (NZZ)(The National Foundation of Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia)
Cyprus
- Ίδρυμα Προώθησης Έρευνας (RPF)(Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation)
Czech Republic
- Akademie věd České republiky (ASCR)(Academy of Sciences of the Czech RepublicAcademy of Sciences of the Czech RepublicThe Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic was established in 1992 by the Czech National Council as the Czech successor of the former Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. The Academy is the leading non-university public research institution in the Czech Republic...
) - Grantová agentura České republiky (GAČR)(Czech Science Foundation)
Denmark
- Danmarks Grundforskningsfonden (DG)(Danish National Research Foundation)
- Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab(Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and LettersRoyal Danish Academy of Sciences and LettersRoyal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters is a Danish non-governmental science Academy, founded 13 November 1742 by permission of the King Christian VI, as a historical Collegium Antiquitatum...
) - Det Frie Forskningsråd - Kultur og Kommunikation (FKK)(The Danish Council for Independent Research - Humanities)
- Det Frie Forskningsråd - Sundhet og Sygdom (FSS)(The Danish Council for Independent Research - Medical Sciences)
- Det Frie Forskningsråd - Natur og Univers (FNU)(The Danish Council for Independent Research - Natural Sciences)
- Det Frie Forskningsråd - Samfund og Erhverv (FSE)(The Danish Council for Independent Research - Social Sciences)
- Det Frie Forskningsråd - Teknologi og Produktion (FTP)(The Danish Council for Independent Research - Technology and Production)
The secretarial functions for all five Danish research councils are assumed by:
- Forsknings- og Innovationsstyrelsen (FIST)(Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation)
Estonia
- Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia (Estonian Academy of SciencesEstonian Academy of SciencesFounded in 1938, the Estonian Academy of Sciences is Estonia's national academy of science. As with other national academies, it is an independent group of well-known scientists whose stated aim is to promote research and development, encourage international scientific cooperation, and...
) - Eesti Teadusfond (ETF)(Estonian Science Foundation)
Finland
- Suomen Akatemia/Finlands Akademi (Academy of FinlandAcademy of FinlandThe Academy of Finland is a governmental funding body for scientific research in Finland. It is based in the Finnish capital, Helsinki. Yearly, the Academy administers over 260 million euros to Finnish research activities. Over 5,000 researchers are working on the projects supported by the academy...
) - Suomen Tiedeakatemiain Valtuuskunta/Delegationen för Vetenskapsakademierna i Finland (Delegation of the Finnish Academies of Science and Letters)
France
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)(French National Research Agency)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)(National Centre for Scientific Research)
- Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique/Direction des Sciences de la Matière (CEA/DSM)(Materials Sciences Division of the Atomic Energy Commission)
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)(French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea)
- Institut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueInstitut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueThe Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique is a French public research institute dedicated to scientific studies surrounding the problems of agriculture...
(INRA)(National Institute for Agronomic Research) - Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche MédicaleInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche MédicaleInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale is a French biomedical and public health research institution.- Medical research organisation :...
(Inserm) - Institut de recherche pour le développementInstitut de recherche pour le développementThe Institut de recherche pour le développement is a French public science and technology research institute under the joint authority of the French ministries in charge of research and overseas development....
(IRD)(National Institute for Development)
Germany
- Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftThe Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft is an important German research funding organization and the largest such organization in Europe.-Function:...
(DFG)(German Research Foundation) - Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren (HGF)(Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres)
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG)(Max Planck SocietyMax Planck SocietyThe Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is a formally independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes publicly funded by the federal and the 16 state governments of Germany....
) - Union der deutschen Akademien der Wissenschaften(Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities)
Greece
- EONIKO I∆PYMA EPEYNΩN (NHRF)(National Hellenic Research Foundation)
- Ίδρυμα Τεχνολογίας και Έρευνας (FORTH)(Foundation for Research & Technology - HellasFoundation for Research & Technology - HellasThe Foundation for Research & Technology - Hellas is a research center in Greece, supervised by the Ministry for Education through its . It consists of seven research institutes, which are located in various cities of Greece: Heraklion, Rethymno, Patras and Ioannina...
)
Hungary
- Magyar Tudományos Akadémia (MTA)(Hungarian Academy of SciencesHungarian Academy of SciencesThe Hungarian Academy of Sciences is the most important and prestigious learned society of Hungary. Its seat is at the bank of the Danube in Budapest.-History:...
) - Országos Tudományos Kutatási Alapprogramok (OTKA)(Hungarian Scientific Research Fund)
Iceland
- RANNIS(Icelandic Centre for Research)
Ireland
- An Chomhairle um Thaighde sna Dána agus sna hEolaíochtaí Sóisialta (IRCHSS)(Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences)
- Health Research Board (HRB)
- Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and TechnologyIrish Research Council for Science, Engineering and TechnologyIrish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology or simply IRCSET is an independent and autonomous research funding and monitoring body established in June 2001 by the Minister for Education and Science to promote science and engineering research in Ireland...
(IRCSET) - Science Foundation IrelandScience Foundation IrelandScience Foundation Ireland ), is the statutory body in the Republic of Ireland with responsibility for disbursing funds for basic science research with a strategic focus...
(SFI)
Italy
- Consiglio Nazionale delle RicercheConsiglio Nazionale delle RicercheThe Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche or National Research Council, is an Italian public organization set up to support scientific and technological research. Its headquarters are in Rome.-History:The institution was founded in 1923...
(CNR)(National Research Council) - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica NucleareIstituto Nazionale di Fisica NucleareThe Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare is the coordinating institution for nuclear, particle and astroparticle physics in Italy. It was founded on the 8th of August 1951, to further the nuclear physics research tradition initiated by Enrico Fermi in Rome, in the 1930s...
(INFN)(National Institute for Nuclear Physics)
Lithuania
- Lietuvos Mokslo Taryba (LMT) (Research Council of Lithuania)
Luxembourg
- Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR)(National Research Fund)
Netherlands
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk OnderzoekNederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk OnderzoekThe Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek is a scientific research organization in the Netherlands....
(NWO)(Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)
Norway
- Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi (Norwegian Academy of Science and LettersNorwegian Academy of Science and LettersThe Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
) - Norges Forskningsråd(Research Council of NorwayThe Research Council of NorwayThe Research Council of Norway is a Norwegian government agency responsible for awarding grands for research as well as promoting research and science. It also advises the Government in matters related to research, and is subordinate the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research...
)
Poland
- Polska Akademia Nauk (PAN)(Polish Academy of SciencesPolish Academy of SciencesThe Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
)
Portugal
- Academia das Ciências de Lisboa (ciences Academy of Lisbon|Lisbon Academy of Sciences)
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)(Foundation for Science and Technology)
Romania
- Consiliul National al Cercetarii Stiintifice din Invatamantul Superior (CNCSIS)(National University Research CouncilNational University Research CouncilNational University Research Council is the Romanian national research funding body, and the accrediting body for academic journals and academic publishers...
)
Slovak Republic
- Slovenská Akadémia Vied (SAV)(Slovak Academy of SciencesSlovak Academy of SciencesThe Slovak Academy of Sciences SAV is the main scientific and research institution in Slovakia fostering basic and strategic basic research...
) - Agentúra na podporu výskumu a vývoja (APVV)(Slovak Research and Development Agency)
Slovenia
- Javna agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije (ARRS)(Slovenian Research Agency)
- Slovenska Akademija Znanosti in Umetnosti (SAZU)(Slovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsSlovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsThe Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Slovenia, which encompasses science and the arts and brings together the top Slovene researchers and artists as members of the academy....
) - Slovenska Znanstvena Fundacija (SZF)(Slovenian Science Foundation)
Spain
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)(Council for Scientific Research)
- Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT)(Interministerial Committee on Science and Technology)
Sweden
- Forskningsrådet för arbetsliv och socialvetenskap (FAS)(Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research)
- Forskningsrådet för miljö, areella näringar och samhällsbyggande (FORMAS)(Swedish Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning)
- Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien (Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesRoyal Swedish Academy of SciencesThe Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
) - Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien (Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities|Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities)
- Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (Bank of Sweden Tercentenary FoundationBank of Sweden Tercentenary FoundationThe Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation is a Swedish foundation which awards grants to individuals and research groups for research projects in science, the humanities, social sciences, medial research, technology, and law. It was created to celebrate the Bank of Sweden's 300th anniversary in...
) - Vetenskapsrådet (VR)(Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research CouncilThe Swedish Research Council is a Swedish government agency established in 2001, with the responsibility to support and develop basic scientific research. Its objective is for Sweden to be a leading nation in scientific research...
) - Verket för innovationssystemVinnovaVinnova is the Swedish government agency that administers state funding for research and development. The agency's mission as defined by the government is to promote development of efficient and innovative Swedish systems within the areas of technology, transportation, communication and labour...
(VINNOVA) (Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems)
Switzerland
- Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz/Académies suisses des sciences (Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences)
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds (SNF)(Swiss National Science FoundationSwiss National Science FoundationThe Swiss National Science Foundation is a science research support organization mandated by the Swiss Federal Government. The SNSF was established in 1952 as a foundation under private law. Its secretariat is based in Bern....
)
Turkey
- Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBITAK) (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)
United Kingdom
- Arts and Humanities Research CouncilArts and Humanities Research CouncilEstablished in April 2005 as successor to the Arts and Humanities Research Board, the Arts and Humanities Research Council is a British Research Council and non-departmental public body that provides approximately £102 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the...
(AHRC) - Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is a UK Research Council and NDPB and is the largest UK public funder of non-medical bioscience...
(BBSRC) - The British AcademyBritish AcademyThe British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
- Economic and Social Research CouncilEconomic and Social Research CouncilThe Economic and Social Research Council is one of the seven Research Councils in the United Kingdom. It receives most of its funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and provides funding and support for research and training work in social and economic issues, such as...
(ESRC) - Engineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilEngineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilThe Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is a British Research Council that provides government funding for grants to undertake research and postgraduate degrees in engineering and the physical sciences , mainly to universities in the United Kingdom...
(EPSRC) - Medical Research CouncilMedical Research Council (UK)The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
(MRC) - Natural Environment Research CouncilNatural Environment Research CouncilThe Natural Environment Research Council is a British research council that supports research, training and knowledge transfer activities in the environmental sciences.-History:...
(NERC) - Science and Technology Facilities CouncilScience and Technology Facilities CouncilThe Science and Technology Facilities Council is a UK government body that carries out civil research in science and engineering, and funds UK research in areas including particle physics, nuclear physics, space science and astronomy .-History:It was formed in April 2007 as a merger of the Particle...
(STFC)
ESF Chief Executives
- 1974-1979 Lord Flowers
- 1980-1984 Hubert CurienHubert CurienHubert Curien was a French physicist and a key figure in European science politics, as the President of CERN , the first chairman of the European Space Agency , and second President of the Academia Europæa and a President of Fondation de France.-Biography:Born in Cornimont, Vosges in Lorraine,...
- 1985-1990 Eugen Seibold
- 1991-1993 Umberto Colombo
- 1994-1999 Sir Dai Rees
- 2000-2005 Reinders van Duinen
- 2006-2007 Ian Halliday
- 2007 John Marks
- 2008–2011 Marja Makarow
- 2012- Martin Hynes