ESF to support the French "Grand Est" Region’s research investment policy

26 January 2018 - The Strasbourg-based European Science Foundation (ESF) has recently been awarded a multi-year framework contract following a call for tender with the French Grand Est Region, to evaluate research grants applications funded through the region’s proactive policy to support excellent regional research.

The European Science Foundation (ESF) has supported the French Grand Est Region’s policy to invest in research excellence since 2016, through the independent evaluation of several hundred research proposals and grants funded by the region. These projects were evaluated following ESF’s recognised peer-review procedures and by mobilising experts commissioned by ESF.

Scientific research is increasingly competitive and the process of assessing proposals for projects is more complex than ever. Decision-makers need high-quality and independent scientific assessment processes to help them make informed selection decisions. Benefiting from our experience of over four decades of grant selection and management, ESF and its expert services division Science Connect provides a robust platform to support independent scientific project evaluation in the context of competitive calls.

In December 2017 ESF responded to a public call for tender issued by the Grand Est Region dealing with “Expertise of scientific projects relevant to mechanisms and policy to support research in the Grand Est Region “. The contract was allocated to ESF for a one-year period, renewable three times. It covers several types of research projects: doctoral grants, young researchers’ projects, and projects for the “Fonds Régional de Coopération pour la Recherche” (regional fund supporting new innovative programmes in basic or applied research). The first instalment for 2018 will deal with the support to the Fonds Régional de la Recherche.

Dr Jean-Claude Worms, ESF Chief Executive, said “We are proud to be able to support this regional initiative through our best practices in research evaluation. ESF has been supported and trusted since its creation in 1974 by the City of Strasbourg and the Eurometropole – Strasbourg has always been the home city of ESF – and we are very happy to be able to extend our partnership and support to the new region in terms of supporting research excellence“.

Mr Nicolas Walter, ESF Corporate Science Officer indicated that this framework agreement awarded by one of the most innovative European regions demonstrates the relevance and robustness of ESF-Science Connect processes and the quality of its Community of Experts.

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Note for Editors

The European Science Foundation (ESF) is based in Strasbourg, France, and it was established in 1974 as an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation to provide a common platform for its Member Organisations to collaborate internationally on research programmes through its networking, funding and coordination activities. The launch of Science Connect, the new expert services division of ESF, marks the next phase of this development, borne out of the ESF deep understanding of the science landscape, funding context and needs of the research community at this critical juncture. Based on best international practice, ESF-Science Connect mobilises specialised experts and guarantees independence, probity and transparency in the assessment processes. ESF puts its expertise, experience and network at the service of its partners to ensure that research support is channelled to the most promising projects.

More information at http://www.esf.org

The French Grand Est Region (English: Great East, German: Großer Osten), previously Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine, is an administrative region in north-eastern France. It superseded three former administrative regions—Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne, and Lorraine—on 1 January 2016, as a result of territorial reform which was passed by the French legislature in 2014. The administrative capital and largest city is Strasbourg.

More information at http://www.grandest.fr

This Press Release is also available in French version. Please click below:

Dossier de Presse "Contrat ESF-Région Grand Est": Evaluation de projets de recherche scientifique