'We must prepare for the future,' says ERC President at Imperial event

Professor Bourguignon with ERC grant holder Professor Tom Coates

On Friday, Imperial welcomed Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President of the ERC, as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations for the EU's research council

Professor Bourguignon met scores of Imperial researchers who have benefited from ERC grants, alongside the Provost James Stirling and Vice Provost (Research) Nick Jennings.

Over the last decade, the ERC has supported more than 100 grants across all four faculties of the College, investing €160 million, making Imperial one of Europe’s top beneficiaries of the ERC’s excellence-based funding.

Future vision

Speaking at the event Professor Bourguignon (pictured left) said: “This is a great opportunity to look back and analyse why the ERC has been a success; but it’s also very important that we prepare for the future.

“I know there are question marks around how the UK will participate, but we want the ERC to continue to thrive and to develop its activities − always in connection with the scientific community. We that know without the support of the scientific community the ERC cannot exist, so we are absolutely open to suggestions, comments and remarks.”

Professor Bourguignon went on to share some plans for the ERC’s next framework programme, FP9, which will commence in 2021 and be for a duration of between five and 10 years. He also highlighted three key themes for the council body going forward − continuity, agility and scale-up.

“Our current budget is 1.8 billion, which looks like a huge amount of money, but when you give one thousand grants as we do, it becomes clear the need to scale-up. For the next framework programme, the target we are giving ourselves is 4 billion by 2027. To achieve that we will need even more support − from the scientific community and also the European Commission and European Parliament.

Professor Molly Stevens (centre), demonstrates her research to Professor Bourguignon at the exhibition

New Chapter

Speaking at the event, was Imperial’s Provost James Stirling, who said: “Imperial is proud to be the UK’s most international university with staff and students from more than 100 countries. Our strong ties to Europe and specifically the ERC underpin our success. One third of all our research involves a European collaborator. ERC grants provide the stimulus and connections that help us reach further, in Europe and around the world.

“As Britain’s relationship with Europe reaches a new chapter, we will continue to make the case to our own and other governments for research and innovation without borders.

“Imperial will always remain open to collaboration. We will always welcome the best and brightest students and staff from Europe and the wider world. It is in this spirit that we look forward to many more years of collaboration, discovery and innovation.”Continued collaboration

Since the Brexit vote last June, Imperial researchers have continued to apply for and win new grants from the European Union.

Continued collaboration 

UK researchers remain eligible to apply for new European grants while the UK is a member of the EU. For projects that continue beyond the date when Britain leaves, the UK government will underwrite the payments of those awards.
 
It is currently unclear what relationship the UK will have with the ERC after Brexit, but Imperial is campaigning for continued access to EU research networks and the College has set out its firm commitment to future European collaborations.
 
For further information or to attend this Friday’s showcase and to register, visit the Imperial Events page.

A round-up of photographs from the event