As a new institution at the European level, the European Research Council (ERC) is implementing the Specific Programme "Ideas" of the 7th Framework Programme.
The ERC consists of a Scientific Council and the autonomous ERC Executive Agency (ERCEA), the latter being responsible for the practical implementation of the funding programmes. Director of the Agency is Dr. Jack Metthey.
The Scientific Council is composed of 22 high-ranking and renowned scientists. Prof. Helga Nowotny has been appointed as chairman of the Scientific Council and thus president of the ERC; vice presidents are Prof. Pavel Exner as well as Prof. Carl-Henrik Heldin. From Germany, Prof. Matthias Kleiner, former President of the German Research Foundation (DFG) as well as Prof. Reinhard GENZEL from the Max Planck Institute for Extra-terrestrial Physics, are among the members of the Scientific Council.
The tasks of the Scientific Council are:
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establishing an overall strategy of the ERC
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establishing the Work Programme (incl. Calls for Proposal, Evaluation Criteria, etc.)
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definition and establishing of the peer-review system
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communication with the scientific community
The Dedicated Implementation Structure is responsible for the following tasks:
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management of Calls for Proposal (publication, submission system, etc.),
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organisation of the peer-review evaluation
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preparation of grant agreements
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financial management of ERC grants
A governing board has been established in order to ensure a coherent cooperation between the Scientific Council and the implementation structure. This board is composed of the chairman and the vice-chair of the Scientific Council, the director of the agency and the secretary general of the ERC.
Prof. Mas-Colell stepped down as Secretary General of the European Research Council on September 1, 2010. On September 1, 2011 Prof. Donald B. Dingwell took over the office as new Secretary General.