Investigator-driven ‘ frontier research’,
within the framework of activities commonly
understood as ‘basic research’, is a key driver of
wealth and social progress, as it opens new
opportunities for scientific and technological
advance, and is instrumental in producing new
knowledge leading to future applications and
markets.
The objective of the specific
programme ‘Ideas’ is to reinforce excellence,
dynamism and creativity in European research and
improve the attractiveness of Europe for the best
researchers from both European and third countries,
as well as for industrial research investment, by
providing a Europe-wide competitive funding
structure, in addition to and not replacing national
funding, for ‘frontier research’ executed by
individual teams. Communication and dissemination of
research results is an important aspect of this
programme.
