Experts appointed to help set up ERA board

One of three: Claudie Haigneré, former astronaut and French Research and Europe minister, chosen to identy experts.

This new body was announced in the Commission’s Green paper, “The European Research Area: New Perspectives”, published in April this year. It will replace the European Research Advisory Board.

The Commission says ERAB should be an independent body of people from academia, industry, politics or other walks of life who can speak with authority on science, science policy and actions to bring about a knowledge society. The three advisers will identify 22 members with experience in research policy and management, based on suggestions from European organisations. The European Commission has asked the experts to submit their suggestions by January 2008.

“If ERAB is to be able to fulfil the role we have conceived for it, it needs to be composed of people with high authority. Having an identification committee of this calibre will ensure that the exercise is taken seriously by all those involved,” said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik.

The principal task of ERAB will be to write an annual report on the state of the European Research Area. It could also be called on to give its opinion on elements of the European Research Area, solicit the views of research and technology consultative bodies in member states on the stage of implementation of the European Research Area, and organise workshops and a biannual assembly to discuss the current state of the European Research Area and suggest policy options for the future.