European Science Foundation
Established in 1974, the European Science Foundation (ESF) is an association of 78 Member Organisations from 30 countries. The member organisations are mainly agencies funding basic research. The ESF headquarters is located in Strasbourg, France.
The ESF promotes European science and basic research by bringing together researchers from different countries, organising programmes, networks, exploratory workshops and conferences and by dealing with subjects of strategic value to European science policy. Initiatives come both from the research community and from Member Organisations.
The ESF is an independent organisation and finances its activities through the contributions of its Member Organisations. Each Member Organisation contributes to the ESF general budget an amount calculated on the basis of its GDP. In addition, Member Organisations contribute specifically to the programmes in which they are participating.
The ESF’s work is governed by a set of shared values: it is pan-European, multidisciplinary, flexible, independent, rigorous and open.
The ESF’s scientific activities are built around the following instruments:
- Exploratory Workshops
- ESF Research Conferences
- ESF Research Networking Programmes
- EUROCORES Programmes
- Forward Looks
Exploratory Workshops are intended to be interactive and output-oriented gatherings where leading European researchers can meet to explore an emerging or innovative field of research or research infrastructure at a European level. The aim is to facilitate knowledge transfer between European researchers, establish new contacts and form joint projects. Each year, the ESF supports approximately 50 workshops across all scientific domains.
ESF Research Conferences are single events, or a series, usually with a biennial meeting. No written material is published on the conference outcome. New approaches and ideas are encouraged. Research conferences are open to all, both researchers and representatives of business and industry.
Research Networking Programmes are theme-oriented activities for bringing together leading scientists and promising young researchers around themes in which cooperation creates demonstrably better science. They link significant projects carried out by multinational research teams to share results and explore possibilities for developing new cooperative research projects. Within the programmes, short- or long-term grants have been awarded for research in a country other than the applicant’s home country; seminars, symposia and exploratory workshops have also been arranged. The programmes usually run for 3–5 years and are funded by ESF Member Organisations.
EUROCORES Programmes are a means to promote cooperation between European research funding agencies as well as between researchers. EUROCORES initiatives differ from Research Networking Programmes in that they are specifically targeted at research funding. In the selection of programme topics, a bottom-up principle is preferred. The programmes are prepared as a collaborative effort between the ESF and Member Organisations, where the ESF is responsible for processing and evaluation of applications as well as for general administration, whereas Member Organisations decide on the funding. National organisations fund only national projects within the programme.
Forward Looks are a funding instrument that combines scientific foresight and planning of research funding at a national and European level. The aim is to enable Europe’s scientific community to develop medium to long-term views and analyses of future research developments, in interaction with policy-makers from ESF Member Organisations.
The operations of the European Science Foundation (ESF) will undergo major reorganisations during 2012−2015. Following the withdrawal of a few member organisations that came after long-standing discussions, the ESF is forced to a major reorganisation of operations. All ongoing EUROCORES programmes and Research Networking Programmes and ESF collaborations will continue to the end of their terms, but for the time being no new programmes or other collaborations will be launched. The Academy of Finland continues to remain a member of the ESF and is involved in developing ESF operations in all sectors.
Academy Research Councils’ ESF cooperation: