By bringing together 67 of Europe's major research funding agencies and academies from 24 European countries, the ESF has access to the breadth of expertise to develop appropriate scientific strategies and the infrastructure to implement them. While scientists from all European countries may be invited to participate in ESF activities, only membership of the ESF enables organisations to participate by right in the Foundation's General Budget and la carte scientific programmes and to play a full role in the Foundation's decision making and discussion fora through representation in the Assembly, the Governing Council and the Executive Board. For information on the roles of these bodies please refer to the ESF Statute . The organisation should demonstrate its willingness, both scientifically and financially, to participate in the ESF General Budget and in la carte activities, and to provide regular information on its scientific activities and priorities and its science policy development. The division between the Member Organisations of any national group of their total contribution should be decided by them and notified to the Secretary General.
Contributions are payable in Euros.
Additional activities , such as a la carte scientific programmes, are financed from separate budgets. Member Organisations of the Foundation participating in an additional activity bear the whole net cost of the activity sharing this cost between themselves in proportions agreed by them. Applying for ESF membership Applications from organisations wishing to become Member Organisations of the ESF are decided upon by the representatives of the Foundation's membership at the ESF Annual Assembly held in November of each year. However, before applications are put forward to the Annual Assembly, they are carefully examined by the Executive Council and its Membership Committee. In addition, a brief description or diagram of the position of the organisation within its national science structure should be given.