Between 18th and 20th October, the Malta Council for Science and Technology, which forms part of the Parliamentary Secretariat, for financial services, digital economy and innovation within the office of the Prime Minister, hosted eminent scientists and scholars in the framework of the ERC Scientific Council plenary meeting.
The ERC grants are among Europe's most competitive and prestigious awards. They are supporting excellent scientists across all disciplines to carry out pioneering research in any EU member state or associated country. An ERC grant is extremely beneficial for a researcher's scientific career.
2017 marks a special date for ERC: the 10th anniversary, an important milestone in making Europe a global centre of excellence in research, and a public event was organized in this regard on 20th October in Kalkara.
MCST Executive Chairman, Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando opened the event, entitled 'ERC Info day: 10 years of funding frontier research'. Other guests speaking included ERC President, Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, Martin Penny and Thierry Prost from the European Research Council Executive Agency, Dr Aaron Micallef, an ERC grantee, and Dr Axel Steuwer, Director of Science Support Services, University of Malta.
The aim of the event was to inform the Maltese potential applicants of the available funding opportunities and encourage them to apply. Furthermore, the event has provided a platform for discussion between ERC Scientific Council members and potential applicants.
The European Research Council was founded in 2007 and its governing body, the Scientific Council, defines the scientific funding strategy and methodologies. It acts on behalf of the scientific community in Europe to promote creativity and innovative research. The body is composed of 22 eminent scientists and scholars appointed by the European Commission.
ERC is part of the "Horizon 2020"programme, the largest ever EU programme for research and innovation.