ERC names Danish chemist as VP

Danish chemist Klaus Bock, former head of research at brewer Carlsberg, was named a new vice president of the European Research Council.

He replaces Dutch academic Sierd Cloething, as of 1 January 2016. In the new role, he will oversee the ERC’s funding and strategic mission in the fields of physical sciences and engineering.  

Bock will work alongside current Vice Presidents, Mart Saarma and Núria Sebastián Gallés.

The three Vice-Presidents are also members of the ERC Board together with the ERC President and the Director of the ERC Executive Agency.

A prominent European scientist

Bock was Head of Research at the Danish brewer’s Copenhagen lab from 1992, and was executive vice president for research for the parent company, Carlsberg A/S, from 2001 to 2007. He has published over 260 papers in international journals in the area of organic chemistry.

His public positions have included chair of the Danish National Research Foundation, deputy chair of the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, and president of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences.

About the ERC

The ERC was set up in 2008 as a European funding agency for excellent frontier research.  

In eight years of activity, the ERC has awarded 5,000 research grants, worth €9 billion, to scientists of 66 nationalities.

In 2016, the ERC will be funding projects worth €1.7 billion. To get a slice of the 2016 funding pie, mid-career scientists can apply for the ERC’s consolidator grants until 2 February. Experienced researchers with proven track records will get a chance to compete over €540 million in advanced grants starting May next year.