A conference on the value of excellence  

The conference 'Excellence revisited - the value of excellence' brings together policymakers, stakeholders, researchers, senior university administrators and students to discuss this concept and exchange ideas. It is organized by the Danish Presidency of the European Research Council (Erc) in cooperation with the University of Aarhus, where the meeting is being held on April 18-20  2012.

"I am proud to support the Danish Presidency Conference. Excellent research should be identified by careful evaluation of research proposals and applicants, carried out in an open competition by internationally acclaimed experts. The evaluation should follow internationally acknowledged standards and criteria in a fair and transparent assessment procedure. By doing so, it is possible to identify and support the very best people with the most ambitious ideas", says Helga Nowotny, Erc president.

The conference is expected to influence further policy development and the promotion of excellence in research, innovation and education at both the European and national levels, including the negotiations on the next Framework Programme. Furthermore, the symposium intends to promote a wider understanding of the concept of excellence that we all use and it aims at facilitating wider acknowledgement of the need to create a fruitful environment for excellence in research, education and innovation.

"Not surprisingly, there is no unanimous consensus on what excellent research is, why it is important and how we should go about creating the right conditions for fostering and exploiting excellence at European level. The need to discuss this has never been more urgent in a rapidly globalizing world", concludes Helga Nowotny.

Per saperne di più: - www.excellence2012.dk/