Press release
21 January 2015
The European Research Council (ERC) is taking part in the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to debate the importance of cutting-edge research in an ever more competitive world. The new European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Carlos Moedas, and ERC President Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon will participate, along with eleven ERC-funded top researchers. Amongst them are two Nobel laureates; Prof. Sir Konstantin Novoselov will speak about materials of future technologies and Prof. Sir Christopher Pissarides will share insights into lowering unemployment in Europe. The theme of this year's Davos summit is "The New Global Context."
On the eve of the meeting, Commissioner Moedas said: "We are here in Davos to discuss how to keep Europe on the map. I am pleased that the European Research Council is participating in the summit as it shows how important excellent frontier research is, not only for Europe's competitiveness, but also to tackle a range of global issues, from climate change to social inequality and energy security. Researchers must be inspired to take risks and follow their curiosity to find new solutions to such problems in the long term."
President Bourguignon commented: "I am thrilled to see so many ERC grantees at Davos who will share their ground-breaking research at the frontiers of knowledge, and their enriching experience as scientists. They are amongst the thousands of top researchers already funded by the ERC across Europe, whose ideas spark innovation and drive progress. By backing some of the best, the ERC has proved to be a key ingredient in keeping Europe competitive in the global arena."
ERC press conference in Davos - follow live
Speakers:
- Keeping Europe on the map in an ever more competitive world - Saturday 24 January at 10.30 - 11.00(Press conference room, Congress Centre)
Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, ERC President Prof. Sir Christopher Pissarides, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, ERC grantee
The speakers will address the importance of investing in ground-breaking research at the frontiers of knowledge to stimulate innovation, growth and competitiveness in Europe. They will also discuss the European Research Council's mission to reverse "brain drain" by funding top researchers, including young talent. Sir Christopher Pissarides, Nobel laureate and ERC grantee, will give his insights into lowering unemployment in Europe.
> "Employment gap: Mind the Gap?" broadcast liveon Friday 23 January, 12.30 - 14.00, Open Forum, Swiss Alpine School (SAMD), with ERC grantee Prof Hélène Rey amongst the speakers.
> "The Potential of Synthetic Biology with the European Research Council" on 23
January, 14.45 - 16.00, Fluela Ideas Lab Congress Centre. ERC Ideas Lab. Introduced by Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon and featuring ERC grantees: Prof. Uri Alon, Prof. Jane Calvert, Dr Maarten Merkx and Prof. Birger Lindberg Moller (on record)
> "Beyond Moore's Law" broadcast liveon Friday 23 January, 15.00 - 15.45, Congress
Centre, Forum, with ERC grantee Prof Sir Konstantin Novoselov as one of the two speakers.
> "Global Science Outlook" broadcast liveon Saturday 24 January, 9.15 - 10.15, Sanada room; Congress Centre. Panel discussion with Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon alongside others.
> "The Neuroscience of Compassion" on Saturday 24 January, 15.30 -16.30, BetaZone Davos, Klosters, Congress Centre, Schwarzhorn. With ERC grantee Prof. Tania Singer amongst the speakers (on record)
In total, the ERC takes part in 15 sessions and one press conference in this annual meeting. Full ERC programme
Prof. Uri Alon, Institute of Science Weizmann (IL) Prof. Flemming Besenbacher, Aarhus University (DK) Dr Jane Calvert, University of Edinburgh (UK)
Dr Maarten Merkx, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (NL) Prof. Birger Lindberg Moller, University of Copenhagen (DK)
Prof. Erika von Mutius, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (DE)
Prof. Sir Konstantin Novoselov, Nobel laureate in Physics, University of Manchester (UK) Prof. Sir Christoforos Pissarides, Nobel laureate in Economics, University of Cyprus (CY) Prof. Tania Singer, Max Planck Society (DE)
Prof. José Manuel Baselga Torres, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (IL) Prof. Hélène Rey, London Business School (UK)
The World Economic Forum (WEF), which has taken place annually since 1971, is one of the most recognised platforms for discussion of pressing global issues. With the overarching goal to "improve the state of the world", the forum gathers over 2,500 participants, bringing together political, business, scientific and civic society leaders from around the world.
Set up in 2007 by the EU, the European Research Council (ERC) is the first European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. Every year, it selects and funds the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age to run five-year projects based in Europe.
The ERC strives to attract top researchers from anywhere in the world to come to Europe. To date, the ERC has funded more than 4,500 top researchers at a variety of stages in their careers.
Under the new EU research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, the ERC has a
substantially increased budget of over €13 billion.
The ERC consists of an independent Scientific Council and an Executive Agency. The Scientific Council, the ERC's governing body, is composed of 22 distinguished scientists and scholars. Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon has been the ERC President since 1 January 2014.
Carlos Moedas has been the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation since 1 November 2014.
ERC programme at WEF 2015
ERC Deleg ation's biog r aphies
Full WEF 2015 programme
ERC website
Madeleine DRIELSMA - available in Davos 21-24 January 2015 on: Mobile: +32 (0) 498 98 43 97
ERC-press@ec.europa.eu
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