Commission Calls for Experts to Evaluate Scientific Projects

On 4 December the Commission published two calls for experts to assist in evaluating and selecting proposals for research projects to be funded within the Sixth EU Research Framework Programme (FP6 2002-2006). Under FP6, proposals will continue to be evaluated and selected for funding
with the help of independent external scientists. This "peer review" system will be further streamlined to ensure the procedure is even more transparent and efficient. Within the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5 1998-2002) the Commission's database containing over 35,000 experts was used to select some 10, 000 experts to assess 60,000 proposals.

"Our programmes are based on excellence," said European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. "The idea of the European Research Area, a true internal market for knowledge and science, is to make Europe share best practice in the scientific field. To identify best projects and reward outstanding performance, we have to rely on high-quality experts to advise us. I invite research institutions to put us in touch with the best scientists and I invite researchers themselves to present their application and help us discover and support innovative research projects, to enhance Europe's competitiveness and quality of life."

The first call for applications focuses on individual experts, who are invited to register directly in a newly developed database, while the second one concerns research institutions and other organisations with
an interest in research, which are invited to present lists of candidates.

This is the first time such organisations have been asked to suggest names of experts. The lists of suggested names would be submitted via a web site developed for this purpose. Candidates will then be contacted individually by the European Commission to invite them to register in the database mentioned above. Experts appointed by the Commission will assist it in evaluating proposals and may be called on to monitor projects as well.FP6 aims to target its resources on a smaller number of well-focused
projects, to achieve added value and critical mass at EU level. This will require a high level of expertise. Evaluators will also have to change on a regular basis. At least 25% of the evaluators working on a specific priority will change annually. Independent experts may also come from outside EU Member States, as this call is open to individuals from every country. In fact, given the ambitious nature of the new instruments to implement the FP6, it is particularly important to the EC to have access to the very best experts from all over the world. To promote equal opportunities, the Commission will continue to try to achieve a 40% quota of women for evaluation panels.

Those experts who were already in the database for the previous framework programme are invited to renew their registration, according to the new FP6 "thematic priority areas" and their related key words. Another innovation lies in the possibility of access by other Commission departments as well as Member States and Associated States to this database (following an official request and only if the expert agrees to this when registering). The procedure for having access to the names of the experts will guarantee data protection, following the strict quality controls existing in the EC databases. Data will be stored only as long as needed.

For registration (only electronic applications will be accepted) please visit:

http://www.cordis.lu/experts/fp6_candidature.htm

For further information, please contact:

Graham Stroud Support for implementing RTD programmes
Head of Unit
Research DG
Tel +32 2 2953825
E-mail: graham.stroud@cec.eu.int

* Julia Acevedo Press &Information officer
Research DG
Tel: +32 2 295 20 43
E-mail: julia.acevedo-bueno@cec.eu.int

* Spokesperson of Commissioner Busquin;
Fabio Fabbi, Directorate General Press
Telephone : +32 2 296 41 74 - Fax: +32 (0) 2 296 30 03
E-mail : fabio.fabbi@cec.eu.int