Press Release: European researchers based in the US want more contact with Europe

EU researchers based in the US gave an outstanding 'yes' to the creation of a network for them and about them. Following a survey of researchers from EU countries working in the US, carried out by the European Commission, over 90% of the 2000 respondents said that they wanted closer research links with Europe. The European Commission therefore agreed to develop a networking and information tool called ERA-Link, which was planned to be operational by the end of 2005. ERA-Link was aimed at giving European researchers working in the US access to information about career and research funding opportunities in Europe, as well as possibilities for collaborative work with EU laboratories, student exchanges and visiting professorships. It was also designed for giving them the means to contact other European researchers working in the US, and to organise regular meetings amongst themselves.