Press Release: High calibre personalities assist European Commission in reform of its research advice

Dr Claudie Haigneré, former French Research and Europe minister, Professor Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former Latvian President and Dr Andrew Dearing, Secretary-General of the European Industrial Research Management Association have undertaken to help the European Commission identify top experts from around Europe to form the advisory European Research Area Board (ERAB). This new body was announced in the Commission Green paper "The European Research Area: New Perspectives" and will replace the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB). 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 ERAB Identification Expert Group will identify 22 members with proven experience and excellence 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.