51³Ô¹ÏÍø

The search committee for the European Research Council’s (ERC) next President is to include some of the continent's most distinguished scientists.

The panel, chaired by former Italian Prime Minister , will include 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s President Alice Gast, CERN Director-General , Chair of the Nobel Foundation , Nobel laureate , President of the Foundation for Polish Science , and former ERC President . 

The committee, appointed by European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation , are seeking a successor to the current President . Both Commissioner Moedas and Professor Bourguignon have visited 51³Ô¹ÏÍø in recent years, to meet researchers, celebrate a decade of successful ERC-51³Ô¹ÏÍø collaboration, and to show their support for future ties.

'Powerhouse of science'

The news comes as government and academic leaders in the UK and Europe have such as . President Gast is a leading advocate for continued collaboration and free movement of talent between the UK and EU after Brexit. 

Commissioner Carlos Moedas said: “The ERC has become a powerhouse of science, and will be a key pillar in an even more ambitious research and innovation framework programme that will follow Horizon 2020. I am confident that Mr Monti and his distinguished group of people from European science and research can help us find the right person to lead the ERC to even greater success.”