Press Release: New Forum launched to promote philanthropic support for research

The European Commission announced the creation of a new Forum to increase philanthropic contributions for research. The idea of such a Forum was raised by a group of experts asked by the Commission to make recommendations as to how Europe should go about making better use of charitable and private donations to advance research. The European Forum on Philanthropy and Research Funding will be initially established for a period of three years and will examine issues such as: the research funding policies of existing philanthropic organisation; legal, fiscal and regulatory issues; and governance and ethical issues. The creation of the Forum is just one in a series of actions undertaken by the Commission since the experts presented their report in March 2006 at the first ever conference on 'Strengthening the role of philanthropy in the financing of research.' Others include studies on the feasibility of a European Foundation Statute and the role of philanthropy in universities' research funding.