Organization

Network of European Neuroscience Institutes

European Research, particularly in the Neurosciences, depends critically on the crea-tive contributions of young investigators. In recognition of this important need, twelve major European Neuroscience Institutes have formed a network, dedicated to the promotion of the independent work of young investigators.
 
The institutes supply laboratory space, infrastructure, a nurturing environment, and other support, which enables young investigators to build small research teams and to perform independent work. The activities of the network will comprise regular meetings, workshops, and exchange of students and know-how.
 
These interactions between groups are supposed to increase the impact of the research of individual teams, promote a stronger integration of research between participating institutions, mobilization of major resources for neuroscience, and a significant structuring effect on the research field in the future European Research Area.
 
The young investigators, which are being supported by the network, are typically researchers in the age group 30 to 40 years, at the peak of their productivity. They usually have experience of 3 to 5 years of postdoctoral training – very often abroad – but are too young to be considered eligible for a tenured professorship in most European Union Member States.
 
The Neurosciences, which are characterized by rapid development of both concepts and techniques and a high degree of interdisciplina-rity, cannot do without the input of these highly flexible and motivated people. Unfortunately, in Europe – unlike the United States – opportunities for independent work, which allows creativity to manifest itself, have been rare for young investigators.
 
More recently, fellowship programs by some of the European Union Member States and also by the European Community have opened up funding sources for the research of independent Young Investigator teams, usually limited to a 3 to 5 year period. The members of this consortium see their role (and chance!) to host such teams and to optimize their working conditions.
 
The state of the art: The network has formally been established in January 2004 during a meeting in Alicante. This meeting, which brought together 8 of the partners in the current network and 18 Young Investigator groups, was financed from the participants‘ own funds, as was an earlier smaller meeting between ENI-London and ENI-Göttingen in June 2003. Both meetings were considered very successful and stimulating by the participating young investigators and the continuation was enthusiastically endorsed.
 
During the Alicante meeting a Steering Committee was elected, which has to approve each individual group and thereby applies stringent criteria of excellence. This exercise, together with the need of the participating institutions to compete for those young investigators, who are successful in the above-mentioned programs, promote the awareness and strife for excellence in these institutions beyond the particular groups of an ENI.
 
The network applied to the European Union for networking funds in the 3rd Call of the 6th Framework Program (Coordination Action) and and was accepted. Since November 2005, the networking activities can be financed by European funds. ENI-Net continued its activitites with the second Annual Meeting that took place in Prague from November 18 to 22.
 
Meanwhile the network counts 55 Young Investigator Groups in 19 institutes located in 13 European countries.