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8
the
case of
GREECE
5
years of
Excellence in
the European
Research Area
2007-2011
of research across the entire spectrum of disciplines. Excellence is the sole criterion for funding.
The Programme is being implemented by the European Research Council (ERC) according to the
principles of scientific excellence, autonomy, efficiency, transparency and accountability.
This report, entitled “5 years of excellence in the European Research Area 2007-2011: the case of
Greece” provides a detailed analysis of the first five years of the ERC and the IDEAS Programme,
their achievements and their impact on the European Research Area. It focuses on the Greek case,
demonstrating results on the Greek Research and Innovation landscape. Findings are indicative of
the excellence of the Greek scientific and academic community in terms of ERC success.
In a remarkably short time, the ERC has gained widespread recognition as a world-class research
funding agency and it has been a catalyst of change for the member states, setting high standards
for the development of national and institutional research strategies, policies and practices. The
first part of the report introduces the European Research Council and its vision of placing excellent,
bottom-up, exploratory research at the heart of European research system.
The ERC has also gained a central place in the Europe 2020 strategy for growth and in the Innovation
Union Strategy for promoting Europe’s economic recovery, global competiveness and social
prosperity. Boosting the budget dedicated to top-rate researchers, and especially younger talents,
is a key instrument for stimulating the competiveness and growth needed for Greece’s economic
recovery.
The second part presents detailed information and statistics (success rates, distribution of funds)
regarding the proposals submitted to the ERC in response to ERC Calls. In the third part, the focus
is on the evidence and indicators of excellence which describe the landscape for Research &
Innovation in Greece. Data obtained from the IDEAS Programme (such as patterns of mobility,
gender distribution) are distributed along with charts, tables and figures which point to the major
achievements of the ERC in the European Research Area and particularly those achievements that
concern Greece. Attention is given to ERC operational performance, its direct and structural impact
in terms of effects on research actions, research policies and funding structures.
Lastly, the report highlights the role of the National Documentation Centre of Greece as a National
Contact Point for the 7th Framework Programme, its activities and achievements, and finishes with
the future of the ERC in the frame of Horizon 2020.
This report is based on data collected by EKT, as the Programme’s National Contact Point, from
documents and information available at the ERC website http//erc.europa.eu (such as ERC annual
reports and press releases) and statistics kindly provided by the European Research Council
Executive Agency (ERCEA). Special thanks should be given to Dr Theodore Papazoglou (Head of
UNIT A1- Support to the ERC Scientific Council of the ERCEA) for his constant support and guidance
and to all ERC grantees and evaluators in Greece for sharing their invaluable expertise with potential
Greek ERC applicants at relevant information days and workshops.