The European Research Council and its Impact on National Level

Presupuesto y Gasto Público 72/2013: 241-258
Secretaría de Estado de Presupuestos y Gastos
© 2013, Instituto de Estudios Fiscales
The European Research Council and its Impact on National
Level Policy for Science
MaRIa nEDEVa
MIoIR, The University of Manchester, UK
Recibido: octubre 2013
Aceptado: noviembre 2013
Resumen
Este artículo analiza si la creación y funcionamiento del Consejo Europeo de Investigación (European Research
Council – ERC) puede generar presiones para el cambio en los políticas de investigación de los países europeos.
Para esta finalidad se analizan tres condiciones que son necesarias para que el impacto se produzca. Se concluye que
el ERC añade presiones para el cambio a nivel nacional y, como mínimo, legitima las demandas de transformación
que ya existen.
Palabras clave: European Research Council, ERC, impacto, políticas nacionales para la ciencia, financiación de
las organizaciones.
Clasificación JEL: I23, I28.
Abstract
this paper tackles the question as to whether the establishment and operation of the European Research Council
could translate into pressures for change at the level of national policy making for science. to this end, we analysed
three conditions that are necessary for impact to occur using data from a recently completed study. We conclude
that the ERC could present pressures for change at national level or at least could lend legitimacy to already existing
demands for transformation; indeed this has already been the case.
Keywords: ERC, impact, national Policy for Science, funding organisations.
JEL Classification: I23, I28.
1.
Introduction
at the beginning of the millennium, two developments that could re-frame the Eu­
ropean level policy for science and research took place. First, the notion of the European
Research area and its principle of integration was introduced; second, and related to this,
the first pan-European research funding agency specifically aiming to support more risky,