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The appeal was launched by the Initiative for
Science in Europe (ISE), an association of 11 organisations
established in November 2002 to promote basic science at a European
level. Further endorsement came from 41 leading European scientific
organisations, associations and research institutes representing the
full range of scientific disciplines including the social sciences and
humanities.
With the ERC debate having gained considerable
momentum in 2004, the appeal warns of the danger of complacency and
calls for acceleration of the work being done to establish an ERC. The
petition also stresses the importance of involvement of the European
scientific community in the organisation of an ERC and the need to
adhere to strict criteria of scientific excellence. |