Frontier research Frontier research a chance and a musta chance and a must

Jerzy M. LangerJerzy M. LangerMinistry of Science and Information Society TechnologiesMinistry of Science and Information Society Technologies

andandInst. Phys., Polish Academy of Sciences Inst. Phys., Polish Academy of Sciences

Polish Physical Society, General Assembly, IPSEC V

Warsaw, 12 Sept 2005

On the way to the ERC

SStudents in Poland tudents in Poland aa demographic projection demographic projection

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

419

93

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

2015

2017

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YEAR

PO

PU

LA

TIO

N (

mln

)

19 - 23 YEAR OLD STUDENTS

Why talented people go to basic Why talented people go to basic research and stay there?research and stay there?

Curiosity & internal mustCuriosity & internal must ((a a sensesense of a mission of a mission))

Endless frontierEndless frontier

Joy of discoveryJoy of discovery amplified even after a small successamplified even after a small success

Sense of freedom and uniquenessSense of freedom and uniqueness ((membership to a better part of a societymembership to a better part of a society))

Fame and recognitionFame and recognition ((less anonymity than on the applied sideless anonymity than on the applied side – –

everybody knows who invented transistor, but almost everybody knows who invented transistor, but almost nobody nobody can listcan list, , names of those who made transistors real names of those who made transistors real purchasable purchasable devicesdevices))

Specificity of basic researchSpecificity of basic research

BR BR is generally is generally done by small groups of done by small groups of researchersresearchers and very often in a solitude. and very often in a solitude.

The research environment The research environment

-- a critical massa critical mass

-- need to exchange and confront views need to exchange and confront views (dedicated meetings and workshops)(dedicated meetings and workshops)

-- quality research laboratoriesquality research laboratories

I need only recall the answer of the great Michael Faraday, when at a public lecture he was demonstrating the production of electricity.

- “Of what use is your invention, Mr. Faraday?” demanded an important lady.

-“Madam”, he replied, “of what use is a new born child?”

Usefulness of „basic science”Usefulness of „basic science”

Aaron Klug, 1982

People often ask what is the use of it. In a world where there are pressing problems, why doesn’t one devote one’s efforts to the practical benefits of mankind?

Where researchers work (%)Where researchers work (%)

Source – EC Key Figures 2003-2004

Financing basic research (2001)Financing basic research (2001)

Source – EC Key Figures 2003-2004

Is there a need for a new Is there a need for a new initiative at European level? initiative at European level? ??

YESYESYESYES

Support of basic research in EUSupport of basic research in EU opinion of scientists opinion of scientists

45 Nobel laureates – an appeal45 Nobel laureates – an appeal European Science FoundationEuropean Science Foundation EuroscienceEuroscience ALLEAALLEA Academia EuropeaAcademia Europea EMBO, EMBLEMBO, EMBL EURABEURAB ERC – Expert Group (a Mayor group)ERC – Expert Group (a Mayor group)

ESF position paperESF position paper

The suggested target of 2 Billion Euros a year for the funding level will give the ERC the desired impact.

The total national funding of national research agencies in Europe is estimated to be in the order of € 40 bn per year.

ERCEG position paperERCEG position paperThe ERC – a cornerstone in ERAThe ERC – a cornerstone in ERA

EC Communication on BREC Communication on BR

Frontier Research: The European ChallengeFrontier Research: The European ChallengeHigh-Level Expert Group ReportHigh-Level Expert Group Report

February 2005February 2005

European ChallengeEuropean Challengess

Reinforcing excellence, especially in new, fast-Reinforcing excellence, especially in new, fast-growing research areas. growing research areas.

Staying ahead in a world of growing scientific and Staying ahead in a world of growing scientific and technological competition. technological competition.

Linking science to technological innovation. Linking science to technological innovation.

Competing for talent. Competing for talent.

Encouraging greater investment. Encouraging greater investment.

The European added value The European added value

Encourage and support the finest talentEncourage and support the finest talent:: Open and direct competition will Open and direct competition will heighten the aspirations and achievements of European researchers, enabling the best talents and heighten the aspirations and achievements of European researchers, enabling the best talents and ideas to be reliably recognised from a larger pool, and thus raising the overall level of excellence in ideas to be reliably recognised from a larger pool, and thus raising the overall level of excellence in frontier researchfrontier research..

Speed, agility and focus:Speed, agility and focus: ERC will be able to support the best ideas in frontier research, ERC will be able to support the best ideas in frontier research, channel resources, and capitalise on the unique diversity of European research talent with a speed, channel resources, and capitalise on the unique diversity of European research talent with a speed, agility and focus not always possible within some national funding systems.agility and focus not always possible within some national funding systems.

Status and visibility for research leaders:Status and visibility for research leaders: The ERC can confer status and The ERC can confer status and visibility on European frontier research and the best researchers and their teams,visibility on European frontier research and the best researchers and their teams, ..

Dynamic structural effects on European research system:Dynamic structural effects on European research system: The ERC can The ERC can catalyse the adaptation of national research structures to the evolving European Research Areacatalyse the adaptation of national research structures to the evolving European Research Area ..

Economic benefits:Economic benefits: The availability of new knowledge and the expanded, higher-quality pool The availability of new knowledge and the expanded, higher-quality pool of talented researchers funded by ERC can help to attract and retain more R&D-intensive firms in of talented researchers funded by ERC can help to attract and retain more R&D-intensive firms in Europe, and to create a greater impetus for the establishment of research-based spin-offs.Europe, and to create a greater impetus for the establishment of research-based spin-offs.

Societal benefits:Societal benefits: The ERC can provide the opportunity to invest quickly in the knowledge The ERC can provide the opportunity to invest quickly in the knowledge base necessary to cope with the new and emerging issues confronting society.base necessary to cope with the new and emerging issues confronting society.

High-Level Expert Group ReportHigh-Level Expert Group Report, , February 2005February 2005

The ERC – general principlesThe ERC – general principles

BBring a European context to the support of long-termring a European context to the support of long-term,, fundamentalfundamental,, curiosity-driven research. curiosity-driven research.

FFocus on excellence as the basis for its funding decisionsocus on excellence as the basis for its funding decisions

Competitive decision process with scientific community involved Competitive decision process with scientific community involved at all stages, including final decisions.at all stages, including final decisions.

SSignificant degree of operational freedomignificant degree of operational freedom, , simplsimplicity of icity of proceduresprocedures and transparen and transparencycy..

FFinancially meaningful inancially meaningful b budget.udget.

Complementarity, and not competition with other major Complementarity, and not competition with other major financial sourcesfinancial sources

The ERC – for whom and how?The ERC – for whom and how?

AAddress exclusively the top level of researchers in ddress exclusively the top level of researchers in Europe (groups but also individuals). Europe (groups but also individuals).

AAge and origin must not be used as a criterion ge and origin must not be used as a criterion

All granting procedures must be highly competitive. All granting procedures must be highly competitive.

It will help create benchmarks.It will help create benchmarks.

Support only the best individuals and groups, so that they can become even better.

Successful Successful EU EU actionsactions

Marie Curie awardsMarie Curie awards

FETFET

NESTNEST

Infrastructure supportInfrastructure support

EURESCO ConferencesEURESCO Conferences

Forward looksForward looks

EUROCORESEUROCORES

EURYI (EUROHORC initiative)EURYI (EUROHORC initiative)

FP 6

StrongestStrongest Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, AstrophysicsAstrophysics

MediumMedium Biology, Earth Sciences, Medicine, Biology, Earth Sciences, Medicine, some Engineering some Engineering SSciences.ciences.

Lagging Lagging most Engineering Sciences, Ecology.most Engineering Sciences, Ecology.

  

Strong nationallyStrong nationally ArchaeologyArchaeology,, Literature Literature studies studies Sociology, HistorySociology, History

Why then basic research is great Why then basic research is great chance in NMS?chance in NMS?

There we are strongestThere we are strongest..

It is fairly inexpensiveIt is fairly inexpensive..

It is a landmark of Polish „ivy league” of higher education It is a landmark of Polish „ivy league” of higher education and thus helps to train open minds.and thus helps to train open minds.

A distance from science-driven research to applied is A distance from science-driven research to applied is much smaller if a first step is at the highest levelmuch smaller if a first step is at the highest level..

There will be a lot of resources in Europe, so we must get There will be a lot of resources in Europe, so we must get prepared to compete, and quickly.prepared to compete, and quickly.

But uncompromise

d quality is

absolute must

Science performance Science performance vs. country economyvs. country economy

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AT

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GDP PER PERSON IN THOUSANDS US DOLLARS

King D.A. (2004) Nature 430, 311-316

Poland strongly supports the proposed inclusion of basic research in FP7 and the earmarking of separate financial means for that purpose. Recognising a fundamental role of basic research for any progress of science, Poland fully endorses the proposed establishment of the European Research Council.

Polish position regarding Polish position regarding FP7FP715125/04 RECH15125/04 RECH

BR in FP7 - beyond the ERCBR in FP7 - beyond the ERC

Research programmesResearch programmes – – GRANTS NOT CONTRACTSGRANTS NOT CONTRACTS ! !

Individual researcher supportIndividual researcher support – grants, mobility schemes – grants, mobility schemes (no age restriction)(no age restriction)

Research networkingResearch networking – when justified – when justified

Meeting and workshops Meeting and workshops

Research infrastructureResearch infrastructure – directly or via cohesion or – directly or via cohesion or structural funds (in less developed regions)structural funds (in less developed regions)

Dissemination of science informatioDissemination of science information – link to the publicn – link to the public

Research policyResearch policy, benchmarking, foresight, benchmarking, foresight

ERC – theERC – the hope hope

Great expectationsGreat expectations

Great challenge Great challenge

However the ERC will not solve all problemsHowever the ERC will not solve all problems

But ERC will contribute to the solution of But ERC will contribute to the solution of many problems and issuesmany problems and issues

We must not only advocate for the ERC, but We must not only advocate for the ERC, but we all have to work for its success.we all have to work for its success.