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Dear ERC Vice President
Honored keynote speakers
Honored ERC grantees
Ladies and gentlemen
“Citius, Altius, Fortius.”
These are the three words, representing the motto of the Olympic Games.
“Faster, Higher, Stronger” is the common English translation.
The words were first used in Antwerpen in 1920, and have been the official motto for the Olympic Games ever since.
The Olympics go back more than 2,000 years. As you know, the Ancient Greeks held the first games. In antiquity the finest title a person could achieve was ‘Olympic Champion’.
At that time in history the athletes participated stark naked. Married women were strictly denied access to the competitions.
While the Olympics are all about bodypower, science is all about brainpower.
Nevertheless, there are several parallels between the Olympics and the world of science.
Both the Olympics and science aim to break down boundaries.
While the Olympics break down boundaries for the physical human capability, science breaks down boundaries for knowledge, bringing us forward towards new insights – faster, higher, stronger.
The Olympics and excellent science both require countless hours of hard training. Countless hours of experimenting, failing and trying again. Giving it another go.
But there are also differences. Coca Cola is one of the most important sponsors when it comes to the Olympic Games. The ERC – the European research Council – is the main sponsor when it comes to frontline researchers in Europe.
ERC is important to Denmark
Since the establishment of the European Research Council back in 2007, the Council has given economic support to elite research in Europe.
I am proud that we helped to establish the ERC when we had the chance during the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union back in 2002.
As part of the Horizon 2020 programme the results of the ERC have been impressive. After only a short period, an ERC grant has become a symbol of excel-lence to the individual researcher.
Today we are gathered to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the ERC. It is truly a day of celebration. The ERC’s impact on excellent European research should not be underestimated. Nor should the impact it has had on Danish research.
Since the establishment of the ERC in 2007, around 150 researchers in Denmark have been awarded an ERC grant.
The grantees include talented young researchers as well as experienced professors with a long and impressive track-record.
One of the more experienced researchers, Mr. Espen Aarseth from the IT University of Copenhagen, has shown us the honour of being here today.
As I have understood, I am only a politician, Mr. Aarsleth’s research strives to examine the effect computer gaming has on human beings.
Something I personally fear when watching my sons occupied in front of their tablets for hours.
Why do some people get addicted to gaming? How does gaming affect our attitudes towards violence?
And what do we learn – if anything at all – by catching Pokemons or shooting down agents in cyberspace?
These are important questions in a time where more and more people live their lives in the digital world. Spending more time facing a computer than a book or other people.
ERC projects are always based on the researcher’s own idea. On the researchers own curiosity. This is a great motivator for the researcher in the search for new answers and solutions.
We can do better
Denmark was off to a slow start in the first ERC application rounds.
However, in recent years Danish researchers have been rather successful in obtaining ERC grants.
Today the number of researchers in Denmark receiving an ERC grant is a bit higher than the European average. We so to speak “punch above our weight”.
The ERC is competitive. With a success rate of around 12%. So a track record higher than the European average is a job well done. But we cannot rest on our laurels. We can do better. “Faster, Higher, Stronger”.
We must maintain and strengthen our position in the ERC.
In this context it is important that we learn from each other. Therefore, I would also like to acknowledge the ERC recipients who have come here today to share their experiences.
And acknowledge Rector Henrik Wegener, University of Copenhagen, who in a short while will be giving us a brief on how to work strategically with the ERC.
It is important that our institutions actively identify and encourage the best researchers to apply for ERC grants. So we can increase the number of successful applications in the years to come.
ERC in the future
In just 10 years, the ERC has become an important driver in bringing Europe forward into a future of growth, innovation and jobs.
But it does not stop here. In the future the ERC – which we should be proud of and celebrate now - is as important as ever in bringing science forward: “Faster, Higher and Stronger.”
Congratulations to the ERC with the 10th anniversary.
Thank you.