Policy Events

For the ERC, a small but vital audience is in the policy community: Those officials, in Brussels and the member-state capitals, who have a voice in how science develops in Europe. We are not suggesting lobbying them; we are, instead, proposing to keep them well informed about ERC progress, and in the member-states encouraging their help in getting a good, well distributed, flow of applicants from across the EU, north and south, east and west. For this, nothing beats well-planned events: small policy dinners, roundtables and highlights in large conferences that policy makers frequent. Science|Business is ideally placed to coordinate these events; it organises more than 20 such events a year in Brussels and other EU capitals, all focused on science or technology themes. All are attended by the most senior officials: member-state ministers and permanent representatives; MEPs; and Commission directors, directors-general, members of cabinet and Commissioners. They are joined by senior academics and technology executives, ensuring a lively mix of view and debate. The format can be a small dinner, a large Webcast, or a half-day policy symposium. A major aspect of Science|Business event planning and organisation is the media content that comes before, during and after the event. We think through the communications strategy for every event - with rapporteurs, briefing papers, research reports, newsletters or whatever else is appropriate to the occasion. While Science|Business events are often exclusive, they also have a public message projected during or after. The events do not happen in a vacuum. When appropriate, we will take the materials generated and filter them through many of the distribution channels mentioned in WP3 – Building an online audience. One of the basic principles is that the events must always be interactive; good thinking requires dialogue, not monologue. This also differentiates us from the normal Brussels fare. Over the years, we have received public mentions from key EU figures. In this context, Science|Business will coordinate a series of policy events, in Brussels and selected European cities, about the policy options opened by ERC scientific discoveries. The general message: ERC science can be a game-changer for Europe. Throughout the project’s duration, Science|Business will offer a high-level platform for the ERC ambassadors and ERC staff to interact with key innovation stakeholders including policy makers at EU, national, regional levels, rectors and deans, universities’ EU offices, tech transfer offices, business executives, innovation directors, etc. The event types: • Science Plug-ins and dinners. In Brussels and selected capitals, we will organise at least one high-level policy event per year, organised around themes connected to timely policy debates. For the sensory theme, for instance, we will organise a high-level dinner that would, quite literally, include a menu related to the ERC research, a few short (10 minute) talks by at least three of the grantees, and then a table-wide discussion about the policy implications of this research for the management of sensory disabilities by European healthcare systems. For some especially topical themes, we will organise a 90-minute ERC = Science² event, in which 3 or 4 especially well-spoken grantees give short, TED-style talks, followed by discussion, with policy makers. The dinners will be stand-alone activities; the Plug-Ins would often be plenary sessions added to other Science|Business science policy conferences, such as our annual Horizon 2020 Webcast conference. In essence, with these events, we would be showing the importance of basic research in providing evidence to guide policy – and demonstrating how much scientific breakthroughs can change the whole nature of a policy debate. • Proof of Concept investor sessions. The PoC programme is a special challenge for communications. The grantees’ targets are very precise: The few h