Posted October 25th 2011
On 1 July, the EIROforum Chairmanship passes from EFDA-JET to CERN for the duration of the next one-year term. Chairman Francesco Romanelli and his team are able to look back on a highly Chairmanship, the second since EIROforum was established. Highlights included the accession of the European XFEL Free-Electron Laser Facility to become the 8th member of the partnership and preparations for the implementation of the Statement of Intent between the European Commission and EIROforum. Two science policy papers were published – one on the eighth research Framework Programme and one as a response to the Commission’s Green Paper on the future of EU Research and Innovation funding. During the last twelve months, EIROforum has participated in a number of events and meetings, including the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Lisbon, the Science on Stage Festival in Copenhagen and the European Careers Fair at the MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
EIROforum is a collaboration between eight European intergovernmental scientific research organisations: http://www.eiroforum.org/
The internal activities of EIROforum are largely conducted by a number of thematic working groups, with several groups developing ambitious plans for the future. A number of initiatives relate to the training of young scientists and engineers. Furthermore, at the EIROforum Spring Assembly, held in Brussels in May, a new thematic working group on the subjects of Innovation Management and Knowledge/Technology Transfer was established, underscoring the great potential of the EIROforum partner organisations in contributing towards improving Europe’s innovative capabilities.
Claus Madsen, EFDA
