European Science Foundation
 The European Science Foundation (ESF) is an association under the local laws of Alsace–Moselle.[2] Its office is in Strasbourg. In 2025, the association has 10 members from 8 countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, Romania, Serbia and Türkiye.[3] Past activitiesESF-EUROHORCs – Funding gapIn June 2008, ESF in collaboration with EUROHORCs (European Heads of Research Councils) published a policy briefing 'The EUROHORCs and ESF Vision on a Globally Competitive ERA and their Road Map for Actions to Help Build it',[4] detailing essential requirements to build a globally competitive European Research Area within the next five to ten years. At the time, EUROHORCs used the European Science Foundation as an implementation agency. In 2014, this instrument disappeared from the European landscape and has not been replaced by any other funding mechanism. Following this transition, European Science Foundation operates as an association under the local laws of Alsace–Moselle, no longer holding the legal status of a foundation.[2][5] ERIH journal lists backlash (2008–2011)The European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH) was launched by the European Science Foundation in 2002 through its Standing Committee for the Humanities as a reference index of humanities journals.[6] From 2008, ERIH’s initial A/B/C banding drew criticism from editors and learned societies, who warned it could be misused for research assessment; sector media reported coordinated protests and opt-outs.[7][8] In January 2009 ESF dropped the letter grades and replaced them with descriptive categories.[9] In 2014, responsibility for ERIH was transferred from ESF to Norway’s NSD – Norwegian Centre for Research Data, and the index was relaunched and expanded as ERIH PLUS to include social sciences.[10][11] Relocation and governance discussions in Strasbourg (2012–2014)Local reporting in Strasbourg noted concerns in late 2012 that the European Science Foundation might be dissolved or relocated to Brussels as European-level bodies consolidated, while also reporting ESF’s stated preference to remain in Strasbourg. The same coverage highlighted declining staff numbers at the time and flagged a late-November 2012 general assembly as a decision point.[12] In December 2012, ESF’s members deferred a final decision on the organisation’s future until end-2014.[13] Succession by Science Europe (2011)In October 2011, the majority of the European Science Foundation’s national research-funding and research-performing member organisations established Science Europe, a Brussels-based association created to represent their collective interests and coordinate research policy at the European level.[14][15] This represented a strategic shift away from ESF’s traditional roles in managing research programmes and distributing funding and toward a dedicated platform for policy advocacy and alignment with European Union institutions.[16] Since the creation of Science Europe, ESF’s membership has narrowed markedly (see Member organisations). Science Europe assumed many of the coordination and strategic functions previously carried out by ESF, but it was not designed to operate funding schemes directly.[16] Between 2011 and 2015, ESF progressively wound down its research networking activities and transferred policy functions to Science Europe.[16] Following this transition, ESF operates as an association under the local laws of Alsace–Moselle, no longer holding the legal status of a foundation, and continues as a smaller science-services organisation, focusing on activities such as peer review, research evaluation, and hosting scientific platforms.[2][5] Science Europe became the main advocacy body for Europe’s national research funders and performers.[17] Portuguese research-units evaluation controversy (2013–2015)Portugal’s national funder FCT contracted ESF to support a two-stage evaluation of national R&D units.[18] The process and outcomes were disputed by parts of Portugal’s research community; in April 2015, Science characterised the evaluation as politically contentious in reporting on FCT leadership changes.[19] In October 2014, Nature ran a World View opinion column by Amaya Moro-Martín referring to “a flawed evaluation process supported by the ESF”; ESF demanded a retraction and threatened legal action, as covered by Retraction Watch; ESF later said it did not intend to sue “at this stage.”[20][21] Staffing reductions and shift in operations (2015–2017)Regional press reported in April 2017 that ESF confirmed its presence in Strasbourg “on different bases,” describing a transition from roughly 120 employees to 19 after three redundancy plans (two voluntary, one compulsory), alongside a pivot to professional services under the Science Connect brand (peer review, evaluations and related support) and a medium-term staffing target of around 40; examples of early clients cited included IdEx Bordeaux, the University of Luxembourg and the AXA Research Fund.[22] Change of focusESF has recently changed its scope of work.[23] ESF has closed its traditional research support activities (European Collaborative Research Projects, Exploratory Workshops, Research Networking Programmes, etc.) and is focused now on supporting the scientific community through administrative services (Science Connect 2016).[24] StructureESF is structured as follows:
Governing bodiesThe annual assembly is the highest level decision making body of the ESF. It elects the ESF president, the Executive Board, ratifies the budget and accounts and admits new members. The assembly delegates are appointed by ESF members organizations. The Executive Board sets and direct the overall strategy of the ESF and coordinates the relations with EU and other institutions. The Executive Board consists of the ESF president and 3 to 8 members organisations. The Executive Board meets twice a year. The President officially represents the ESF to the public and in relations with other national or international organizations. The Chief Executive is responsible for the implementation of the strategy set by the Executive Board, for administration of the ESF office and for ensuring the execution of the decision of the assembly. Grant evaluationUnder ESF’s grant evaluation, the organisation runs a reviewer scheme whereby it outsources the intellectual evaluation work.[25] External academics undertake the assessments, while ESF provides the administrative framework (direct email outreach to acquire reviewers, submission portal, deadlines).[26] The reviewers are expected to volunteer their work or may receive an honorarium from ESF, a modest one-off payment as a token of thanks.[26] [27] [28] [29] Meanwhile, ESF earns a commission from the peer-review requesting organisation.[30] Expert boardsFrom 1974 onwards ESF has hosted disciplinary panels. Member organisations Belgium Associate Member Bulgaria Full Member France Associate Member
Hungary Associate Member Luxembourg Full Member Romania Associate Member Serbia Associate Member Turkey Associate Member PresidentsInitial European Science Foundation
Transition to association under the local laws of Alsace–Moselle
Secretaries General and Chief ExecutivesInitial European Science Foundation
Transition to association under the local laws of Alsace–Moselle
Note: since 2019 tenure indefinite, on an open-ended basis Notes and references
External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
