The 'Preparatory Committee' or 'Founding Committee' chaired by the President of the French 'Centre national de la recherche scientifique' (CNRS), Hubert Curien, was founded during the conference held in Gif sur Yvette from 24 - 25/09/1973. It was composed of one representative from each national group of science and research councils and funded by the members. The secretariat of the 'Preparatory Committee' was assumed by J. Mirabel from the CNRS's Department for External Relations.
A 'Preparatory Group' for the creation of the Preparatory Committee chaired by R. St. J. Henry Walker, Secretary of the British 'Science Research Council', organised and coordinated actions leading to the creation of the 'Preparatory Committee' at Gif sur Yvette.
The Preparatory Committee coordinated the proceedings leading to the foundation of the European Science Foundation (ESF) in November 1974. One of its main tasks was to elaborate the statute of the foundation to be created and to decide about its seat. The Preparatory Committee met regularly, preparing the conferences in Stockholm (02 - 03/05/1974) and organised the founding conference held in Strasbourg (8 - 19/11/1974).
The Committee of West European Science Research Councils (ESRC) was initiated in Februray 1972 at a conference organised by the Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish Research Councils in Aarhus. The Committee's secretariat set up at the Swedish Natural Science Research Council was managed by Göran Friborg. The ESRC coordinated the efforts for the creation of a foundation namely in the Scandinavian countries and assured liaisoned with the Preparatory Committee. It co-organised the conference held in Stockholm in 05/1974. The ESRC is a standing Committee of the ESF since October 1975.

This sub-fonds contains the correspondence, minutes of meetings and conference papers created by the Preparatory Group, the ESRC and the Preparatory Committee.
The documents include the elaboration of the statutes and the choice of the seat as well as the founding conference held in Strasbourg in November 1974.