Giving more for research: the role of foundations, Brussels

The European Commission is organising a conference on the role of foundations and private philanthropy in the field of research, to take place on 27 and 28 March in Brussels, Belgium.

Participants will discuss how philanthropy - foundations, trusts, charities, etc. - can fund knowledge generation, in particular research activities, and explore strategies and initiatives to strengthen the potential of philanthropy as a source of funding for research in Europe. Guest speakers will include the EU Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potocnik.

Key issues to be examined include:
- stocktaking of national initiatives to foster the role of foundations in research;
- exploration of the various ways foundations fund research;
- a review of cross-cutting issues relating to governance, legal and tax treatments of foundations funding research;
- recent developments in philanthropic mechanisms to fund research;
- views of donors on raising funds for research.For further information, please consult the following web address:
http://www.efc.be/content/alert.asp?ContentID=983