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PAS President supports „Friends of the ERC” petition

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the importance of investing in science, basic research and bold research ideas. There is a concern, however, that the budget of the European Research Council (ERC) – for the most pioneering research projects – may face significant cuts. Among the notable supporters of securing funding for the ERC are prominent scholars, Noble laureates, leading scientific institutions, including Polish Academy of Sciences.

On June 1, 2020, Prof. Jerzy Duszyński, issued a letter of support for the "Friends of the ERC" initiative, in which he emphasizes the importance of the ERC mission, which is to stimulate scientific excellence. The President of the Polish Academy of Sciences reminds us that ERC grants have enabled more than 9,000 outstanding scientists to pursue pioneering research and resulted in groundbreaking advancements. 

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"Recognizing that the European Research Council is a guarantor of Europe’s increasing position in science, we wholeheartedly believe that the current health crisis should not adversely affect its funding in the future” says the letter.

About the petition

"Friends of the ERC" is an initiative organized by 19 eminent scholars (including Nobel laureates) to which scientific institutions from 8 countries joined to support the European Research Council. The signatories call upon the EU Presidents and the Heads of States and Governments in Europe to protect the ERC funding in the long-term EU budget (2021-2027).

For more information on the petition, see the “Friend of the ERC” website. 

ERC grants

Prestigious ERC grants support the pioneering research based in the European Union. The motto of the program is "high risk - high gain", and the sole criterion for evaluation of ERC proposals is scientific excellence. The grants amount to up to 3.5 million euro per grant. Receiving the ERC grant is one of the most important individual achievements for a scholar.

The Polish Academy of Sciences supports researchers from across disciplines in applying for ERC grants. The Excellence in Science Department offers scholars a free of charge help on all stages of preparing an application.

Source of information: Polish Academy of Sciences, Friends of the ERC