European Research Council Meeting

The ERC Scientific Council chaired by the ERC President, Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon and composed of 21 distinguished scholars from across Europe, is the main governing body of the ERC. The Scientific Council is supported in its work by the ERC Executive Agency (ERCEA). The Scientific Council meets in plenary session five times, typically in Brussels, with two meetings a year taking place abroad. The last external plenary meeting was hosted in Denmark in 2016.

To mark this historic visit, the Royal Irish Academy co-hosted an official dinner with the Irish Research Council in Iveagh House on 11 October, at which the guest of honour, President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins delivered the keynote address.

President Higgins delivering the keynote address

The Royal Irish Academy, together with sponsors (Enterprise Ireland, the EPA, the HRB, the Irish Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland and Teagasc), also arranged a high level public interview and stakeholder discussion with the ERC President, Professor Jean Pierre Bourguignon on 12 October. During the course of this highly engaging and extensive public interview, hosted by Mr Dick Ahlstrom (Irish Times), Professor Bourguignon offered his thoughts on the importance of funding for basic research as an integral part of the national research ecosystem and his insights on how Ireland can maximise its success at the ERC.  This event also included a panel session showcasing the impact of ERC funded research on Irish society, and a separate panel session detailing the extensive domestic supports available to prospective ERC applicants.

To read a transcript of President Higgins’ speech click here 

To see the programme for the event click here

Dinner hosted by the RIA and IRC in Iveagh House