Basic natural science needs ERA-NET money
May 29 2008
ERA-Chemistry, the European ERA-NET network in the field of chemistry, is presently discussing whether it could in future be possible for researchers to apply for funding for European chemistry research irrespective of schedule, research theme or official deadlines.
“This kind of discussion is really exceptional within the ERA-NETs. It’s an interesting idea, but it might be quite problematic to realise,” says Science Adviser Sanna Carlsson from the Academy of Finland’s Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering.
Twelve countries involved
Since 2004, ERA-Chemistry has organised two targeted calls focused on a clearly defined research theme. The Academy of Finland was involved in the first call.
From a Finnish perspective, the result of the first call was modest: there were no Finnish scientists among those accepted to the selected projects. “It seemed that Finnish researchers had not had enough time to react to the call. On the other hand, however, Finnish chemistry researchers are collaborating all the time with European researchers without any tailored funding.”
ERA-Chemistry comprises 14 national research funding agencies from twelve European countries. A number of different conferences and researcher meetings have also been held. “For instance, ERA-Chemistry has organised so-called Flash conferences; these are a new type of conference that can be arranged at a very short notice, on a clearly defined and topical theme,” Carlsson explains.
Finland not in the next call
“ERA-Chemistry will be closed at year-end, so naturally its future is now a topic of lively discussion. It’s already been decided that the network will continue cooperation between the funding agencies – even without EU funding,” Carlsson says. The Academy will for its part decide in the spring whether Finland will participate in next year’s call with an open research theme.
From the viewpoint of a Finnish research funding agency, ERA-Chemistry has now entered a quiet phase. “Finland is not participating in this spring’s call, as the Academy’s Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering, with its limited research funds, wasn’t able to allocate money for it. Competition between different scientific disciplines is naturally fierce.”
Finland’s role in ERA-Chemistry has been to, together with Austria and the Netherlands, investigate the obstacles to research funding in Europe as well as to seek find the best procedures for funding. “Not nearly all European research funding agencies are able to channel research funding abroad or to join common-pot funding.”
Funding with the lowest possible bureaucracy
Dr Reko Leino, Professor in Organic Chemistry at Åbo Akademi University, has been Finland’s representative on ERA-Chemistry’s Scientific Advisory Board. Each country participating in ERA-Chemistry has its own representative on this Board. “ERA-Chemistry has worked excellently. I think it’s very important that European funding opportunities and cooperation networks have also been created for basic natural sciences, such as chemistry,” he states.
Leino says that within all natural sciences there is a crying need for different types of funding opportunities. ERA-NETs have been a way to fill this gap. Today, chemistry researchers regrettably often have to shroud their basic research with a nano- or bio-disguise in order to obtain national or international funding.”
The idea behind ERA-Chemistry has been to create a model where small research teams can apply for funding with as low bureaucracy as possible. “Personally, I find it regrettable that Finland isn’t participating in ERA-Chemistry’s new call,” Leino comments.
Text: Tiina Ruulio
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