New agreement signed : Japanese researchers to join ERC teams in Europe

A new agreement was concluded to encourage young top scientists in Japan to join European Research Council (ERC) research teams in Europe.

The President of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Prof. Yuichiro Anzai, and the European Commission's Deputy Director - General for Research and Innovation, Dr Wolfgang Burtscher, signed the agreement in the presence of the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), Mr Sadayuki Tsuchiya, and the ERC President, Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon.

The agreement was signed just before the 23rd EU-Japan Summit that also took place today in Tokyo.

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, endorsed a joint vision for their strategic partnership on
research and innovation.

The ERC-JSPS initiative is open to recipients of the JSPS's Research Fellowships for Young Scientists, who can come to Europe for scientific visits, temporarily becoming part of teams led by ERC grant holders.

JSPS President Yuichiro Anzai commented: "It is one of JSPS’s most important missions to foster the next generation of researchers. In doing so, it is essential to provide excellent young Japanese researchers with opportunities to carry out research within international environments. This new framework initiated between JSPS and ERC will offer a valuable opportunity for these young researchers. I believe that international collaboration under this initiative will benefit the academic communities of both Japan and Europe."

On this occasion, ERC President Jean-Pierre Bourguignon said: "It is a great pleasure to be back in Japan - a country with one of the world's highest R&I investments per capita. I am very pleased that this deal is sealed -
a clear win - win for both parties. It allows teams led by an ERC grantee to draw on the excellence and new ideas of Japanese talent, whilst researchers from Japan will benefit from an international experience in a very selective environment overseas. It will stimulate scientific exchange, and I do believe that the bonds created during such collaborations are lasting and help widen researchers' horizons. Encouraging brain circulation, attracting
talent to Europe and exposing European scientists to international competition lie at the heart of the ERC’s mission. "

For further information: www.jsps.org