The aim is to select 20 excellent candidates, full of insight and constructive ideas for:
1. Defining researchers' role and contribution to global societal challenges such as climate change, sustainable energy, poverty…;
2. Improving the career prospects and working conditions of researchers in Europe (funding, mobility, career structures, social security…);
3. Strengthening the social prestige and recognition of researchers as professionals, highlighting the central role of research and researchers in society and in the generation of growth and jobs;
4. Developing new, interactive communication channels between researchers and the Commission – in order to have a tangible impact on policy-making – and between European researchers themselves.


VOICE OF THE RESEARCHERS – CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The selected candidates will be invited to a "Voice of the Researchers" brainstorming session ("Researchers' Panel") with Commission officials on 23rd April 2012 to launch the discussion, generate innovative ideas and agree on potential actions, including the perspective of jointly organizing a major event during the first quarter of 2013.

Participants will discuss the opportunity of creating a European-level platform giving researchers the chance to come together and participate actively in shaping the future of the research profession from all perspectives (personal, social, legal, economic…).

The call is open to researchers of all ages, nationalities and disciplines residing in Europe. Candidates will be selected in their personal capacity in order to ensure an open, individual and bottom-up approach - not as representatives of any one country or institution. The Commission will strive to ensure overall geographical and gender balance but the overriding selection criteria will be the candidates' commitment to the research profession and potential for constructive dialogue at EU level. Candidates will be selected on the basis of the pertinence, originality and eloquence of their responses to selected questions by an internal evaluation panel composed of Commission officials. 

Link to the full call:
VOICE OF THE RESEARCHERS – CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST