ERA-Chemistry
ERA-Chemistry aims at establishing a European Research Area (ERA) in curiosity-driven chemical research without noticeable national, formal and research-subject boundaries. The strategic objective is the development and implementation of new funding instruments and joint European programmes in chemistry-based research. ERA-Chemistry will contribute to the implementation of the ERA by improving the coherence and coordination across Europe of researcher-driven research programmes.
Partners
ERA-Chemistry comprises the following European research funding agencies:
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG, Germany (coordinator)
- Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Ondersoek – Vlaanderen FWO, Belgium
- Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique FNRS, Belgium
- Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia MCyT, Spain
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung SNF, Switzerland
- Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung FWF, Austria
- Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia FCT, Portugal
- Academy of Finland, Finland
- Hungarian Academy of Science HAS, Hungary
- Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology IRCSET, Ireland
- Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju NCBiR, Poland
Tasks of the Academy
The Academy of Finland participated in Work Package 1, which aimed at determining the status quo (strategies, focus areas, funding criteria, funding instruments, evaluation, administration) of European research funding related to chemistry. The Academy’s specific task was to identify formal and legal barriers that hinder cooperation as well as to define differences and similarities in the funding practices in different countries.
Funding
Funding to ERA-Chemistry amounted to EUR 3 million for coordination in 2004–2008. Of this, the European Commission provided EUR 2.8 million and Switzerland some EUR 0.2 million. At present, the member countries are contributing to the project via their operational input or with their own funding. There have also been discussions about membership fees.