Image: Georges Boulougouris, European Commission
Research department deputy Patrick Child now leads on European Research Council
The EU’s top R&D official, Jean-Eric Paquet, has given one of his two deputies, Patrick Child, the responsibility for overseeing the work of the European Research Council, in a move welcomed by the prestigious funder.
Although the ERC’s day-to-day operations are run by a separate executive agency, that body’s work is overseen by staff in the European Commission’s directorate general for research and innovation.
Minutes from a March meeting of the ERC’s executive Scientific Council, published on 19 May, referred to the shift in direct responsibility for the funder to Child (pictured).
The minutes describe the move as “a very positive development”, saying as it will make working with the department “easier, quicker and simpler given the busy agenda of the director general” (Paquet).