Bourguignon highlights ERC role in innovation
ERC role in innovation highlighted at Brussels convention © belboo

Bourguignon highlights ERC role in innovation

The European Research Council is taking part in the second Innovation Convention in Brussels, which brings together a wide array of prominent figures from politics, industry and academia to debate innovation.

At the conference, ERC President Jean-Pierre Bourguignon highlighted the ERC’s role in research and innovation: “The drive to unleash Europe’s innovation potential resonates with the European Research Council’s raison-d’être. The ERC supports ‘blue sky’ research that often triggers scientific breakthroughs which are essential for innovation. Investing in top researchers with innovative ideas, with an emphasis on the younger generation, is pivotal if Europe is to become more competitive.”

Sessions being held at the convention with participation from the ERC include ‘Global challenges, global collaboration’, featuring ERC President Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon; ‘Shaping the 21st Century, imagining the 22nd’, featuring ERC Scientific Council member Dame Athene Donald; and ‘How research partnerships are turning on the Innovation Growth Machine in Europe’, featuring ERC Scientific Council member Professor Dr Reinhilde Veugelers.