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| ESOF | |
|---|---|
| Name | European Science Open Forum |
| Abbreviation | ESOF |
| Formation | 2004 |
| Type | Conference |
| Headquarters | City of Science hubs |
| Region served | Europe |
ESOF ESOF is a pan-European biennial forum that brings together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society to discuss research, innovation, and science policy. It convenes delegates from institutions such as the European Commission, Max Planck Society, French National Centre for Scientific Research, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and European Research Council to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge transfer. The event attracts participants affiliated with organizations including the World Health Organization, UNESCO, NATO, Royal Society, and major universities like University of Oxford, Sorbonne University, and Heidelberg University.
ESOF functions as a platform where representatives from entities such as the European Parliament, European Investment Bank, Wellcome Trust, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Horizon 2020 consortia present on themes intersecting science, technology, and society. Sessions typically feature speakers from the National Institutes of Health, Karolinska Institutet, ETH Zurich, Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, and Danish Technical University. The forum promotes collaborations among actors like Siemens, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Airbus, and IBM Research as well as research infrastructures including CERN, EMBL, ESO, and European XFEL.
ESOF was first convened in 2004 with support from institutions such as the European Commission, Royal Society, and local hosts like the City of Munich and later Stockholm, Dublin, and Barcelona. Early editions featured contributions from leading figures affiliated with Nobel Prize in Physics laureates, directors from Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, and panels drawing on expertise from Cambridge University Press authors and editors of journals like Nature (journal) and Science (journal). Over subsequent cycles, ESOF engaged networks including the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Institut Pasteur, and national academies such as the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and Académie des sciences.
Governance of ESOF involves partnerships among municipal hosts, regional governments, and pan-European bodies such as the European Commission and the European Research Area. Host committees have included representatives from institutions like Trinity College Dublin, Maastricht University, Bologna University, and municipal authorities of Copenhagen, Leuven, and Turin. Advisory boards have comprised members from the European Science Foundation, Science Europe, Academia Europaea, and private foundations such as the Wellcome Trust and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Programmes span plenary lectures, panel debates, poster sessions, and industry showcases featuring participants from Pfizer, Novartis, Microsoft Research, and Google DeepMind. Thematic tracks have addressed issues raised by institutions like the European Medicines Agency, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, International Energy Agency, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Workshops frequently partner with research infrastructures such as ELIXIR, ICOS, EuroHPC, and initiatives funded under Horizon Europe and collaborations with the European Space Agency.
ESOF editions have been hosted in cities that coordinate with local universities and cultural institutions including the University of Porto, Ghent University, Stockholm University, and University of Milan. High-profile panels have featured leaders from UNICEF, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and media outlets like BBC News, The Guardian, Le Monde, and Der Spiegel. Parallel events often include science communication forums led by organizations such as the Alan Turing Institute, Pawel Zarzycki Science Centre, and national science museums like the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie.
ESOF has influenced policy dialogues involving the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and informed strategies of the European Research Council and national funding agencies like the French National Research Agency and German Research Foundation. Critical appraisal has come from commentators linked to Open Science Framework, SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition), and advocates from the European Public Health Alliance regarding access, representation, and industry influence. Debates include scrutiny from academics at University of Amsterdam, University of Leiden, and policy analysts from Chatham House and Bruegel.
Notable participants and collaborators have included laureates and leaders associated with Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, directors from CERN, chief scientists from the European Space Agency, and executives from Siemens Healthineers and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Institutions and networks collaborating with ESOF include EMBL-EBI, European Molecular Biology Organization, Human Frontier Science Program, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and universities such as University College London, Trinity College Dublin, Leiden University, KU Leuven, and Université de Genève.
Category:Science conferences