Brussels, April 2020

G6 Declaration
The future of research in Europe depends on the success of the ERC
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the world is facing an unprecedented health crisis.
From the outset, the research communities have mobilized to understand the propagation
mechanisms of the pandemic, develop therapeutic solutions and prepare to face its
health, economic and social consequences.
In Europe, particularly affected by the pandemic, this mobilization involves all decisionmaking levels, European Commission, European Parliament, member States, and regions.
It also concerns all relevant actors. Each scientific network, each discipline, each type ofresearch, fundamental or applied, has a role to play.
As such, the G6 network, which brings together CNR, CNRS, CSIC, the Helmholtz
Association, the Leibniz Association and the Max-Planck Society, the 6 major European
research organizations that lead the way in terms of skills, networks and interdisciplinary
research, intends to reaffirm its strong support to the European Research Council in thecontext linked to the resignation of its president.
In less than 15 years, the ERC has become the flagship of European research funding in theworld. It has brought numerous scientific breakthroughs in many areas, among them along list of results with direct relevance to covid-19.
This remarkable success is based on the ERC’s proven values: a strict orientation towards
excellence, scientific competition and openness to new topics in a strictly bottom up
approach.
These principles are underpinned by the organization of the ERC. It is headed by theScientific Council and its president, who take strategic decisions according to scientificcriteria, independently of political priorities. And it is managed by the competent anddevoted teams of the executive agency (ERCEA), in coordination with the EuropeanCommission. They have been the true architects of the success of the European ResearchCouncil.
Therefore, in order to allow the ERC to play its full role, the G6 calls for preserving its values
and its mission guaranteed by its proven organization. Regarding the choice of the newPresident of the Scientific Council, the G6 trusts the European institutions to determine anappropriate and transparent procedure, which will allow for the selection of a personality
with an outstanding scientific profile and an unwavering commitment for Europe. Given
the present emergency, the nomination procedure should be efficient and effective. In
this context, it is important to seriously consider the voice of the Scientific Council.
Europe will face the current crisis and other shocks that might hit thereafter only if it unites
to support its best researchers and its programs of excellence. The ERC is at the forefrontof them. On behalf of the 135 000 staff it represents and, among them, its roughly 1 400
ERC laureates, the G6 recommends that all measures be rapidly taken to allow the ERC tocontinue to play its key role in the European research funding landscape.
Yours sincerely,

Massimo Inguscio, President, CNR

Otmar Wiestler, President, Helmholtz
Association

Antoine Petit, President, CNRSMatthias Kleiner, President, Leibniz Association

Rosa Menéndez, President, CSIC

Martin Stratmann, President, Max PlanckSociety