European Science Foundation
1974 (Strasbourg)Identity Area
Description Area
The European Science Foundation was created on 18-19/11/1974 in Strasbourg as a scientific body aiming to coordinate the work of Europe’s main research funding and performing organisations. It is independent from intergovernmental collaboration.
The Swedish Natural Science Research Council Committee of West European Science Research Councils (ESRC), composed of Finnish, Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish Research Councils, organised, in collaboration with the British Royal Society, in February 1972 in Aarhus a conference which provided the decisive impulse for the creation of the ESF. In September 1973 the conference organised in Gif-sur-Yvette, attended by representatives of sixteen European scientific research councils and institutions (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia), the European Commission, as well as the Council of Europe and the OECD, set up an ESF Founding Committee under the leadership of Hubert Curien. It drew up the statutes and selected the seat of the Foundation. The Foundation’s Statute was adopted during a conference held in November 1974 in Strasbourg and attended by the 16 national groups as well as the Commission of the European Communities, the Council of Europe and the OECD. The plenary conference turned into the first General Assembly of the ESF; Sir Brian Flowers was unanimously appointed Chairman, Olivier Reverdin and Poul Riis vice-chairmen and Friedrich Schneider Secretary-General.
With its seat in Strasbourg, from 1975 to 2005 all member organizations contribute to the budget of the Foundation according to a scale based on the net national incomes of the countries to which the member organizations belong. At that time its scope included the humanities, jurisprudence, social sciences, economics, natural, medical and technical sciences. Set out in the ESF Statute, its principal objects were to advance cooperation in basic research, to promote mobility of research workers, to assist the free flow of information and ideas and to facilitate the harmonisation of the basic research activities supported by member organizations. Further objects were to facilitate cooperation in the use of existing facilities, to facilitate cooperation in assessing and executing appropriate projects of major importance, to facilitate cooperation in the provision of expensive specialised services and to make grants for the support of concerted actions and collaborative schemes. The different organs of the ESF are the Assembly, the Electoral Commission, the Executive Council, the President and the Secretary-General. The principal organ of the Foundation is the Assembly, which met at least once a year. It was composed of representatives appointed by each member organisation of the Foundation and by the Governing bodies.
As of November 1978, the ESF comprised 43 member organizations from the16 ESF founding countries.
The ESF is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to advancing high-quality research across Europe and beyond since 1974.
With established records in all disciplines, ESF offers expert, independent management and support throughout the entire research lifecycle—from conception and implementation to evaluation, sustainability, and impact. ESF operates across diverse scientific networks, funding programs, and EU-funded projects, and specialises in research assessment, grant evaluation, and comprehensive support —spanning scientific, operational, communication, administrative, and financial management.
Driven by a dynamic, highly skilled, and international team, ESF is dedicated to catalysing innovative solutions to enhance the impact of research worldwide.
Relations Area
European Science Foundation
1974 (Strasbourg)Identity Area
Description Area
The European Science Foundation was created on 18-19/11/1974 in Strasbourg as a scientific body aiming to coordinate the work of Europe’s main research funding and performing organisations. It is independent from intergovernmental collaboration.
The Swedish Natural Science Research Council Committee of West European Science Research Councils (ESRC), composed of Finnish, Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish Research Councils, organised, in collaboration with the British Royal Society, in February 1972 in Aarhus a conference which provided the decisive impulse for the creation of the ESF. In September 1973 the conference organised in Gif-sur-Yvette, attended by representatives of sixteen European scientific research councils and institutions (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia), the European Commission, as well as the Council of Europe and the OECD, set up an ESF Founding Committee under the leadership of Hubert Curien. It drew up the statutes and selected the seat of the Foundation. The Foundation’s Statute was adopted during a conference held in November 1974 in Strasbourg and attended by the 16 national groups as well as the Commission of the European Communities, the Council of Europe and the OECD. The plenary conference turned into the first General Assembly of the ESF; Sir Brian Flowers was unanimously appointed Chairman, Olivier Reverdin and Poul Riis vice-chairmen and Friedrich Schneider Secretary-General.
With its seat in Strasbourg, from 1975 to 2005 all member organizations contribute to the budget of the Foundation according to a scale based on the net national incomes of the countries to which the member organizations belong. At that time its scope included the humanities, jurisprudence, social sciences, economics, natural, medical and technical sciences. Set out in the ESF Statute, its principal objects were to advance cooperation in basic research, to promote mobility of research workers, to assist the free flow of information and ideas and to facilitate the harmonisation of the basic research activities supported by member organizations. Further objects were to facilitate cooperation in the use of existing facilities, to facilitate cooperation in assessing and executing appropriate projects of major importance, to facilitate cooperation in the provision of expensive specialised services and to make grants for the support of concerted actions and collaborative schemes. The different organs of the ESF are the Assembly, the Electoral Commission, the Executive Council, the President and the Secretary-General. The principal organ of the Foundation is the Assembly, which met at least once a year. It was composed of representatives appointed by each member organisation of the Foundation and by the Governing bodies.
As of November 1978, the ESF comprised 43 member organizations from the16 ESF founding countries.
The ESF is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to advancing high-quality research across Europe and beyond since 1974.
With established records in all disciplines, ESF offers expert, independent management and support throughout the entire research lifecycle—from conception and implementation to evaluation, sustainability, and impact. ESF operates across diverse scientific networks, funding programs, and EU-funded projects, and specialises in research assessment, grant evaluation, and comprehensive support —spanning scientific, operational, communication, administrative, and financial management.
Driven by a dynamic, highly skilled, and international team, ESF is dedicated to catalysing innovative solutions to enhance the impact of research worldwide.