The Helmholtz Office Brussels

The Brussels Office helps increasing the participation of Helmholtz Centers in EU programs such as Horizon Europe. With our services, we support intensifying and expanding networks and research collaboration in Europe and beyond.

Helmholtz in Europe

Shaping a sustainable future for Europe depends on collaborating in research. With its mission to address some of the grand challenges for research and society, Helmholtz is dedicated to European research cooperation. Global challenges do not stop at borders – and the Framework Programme is of utmost importance to address these challenges jointly and in a European way. in this light, Helmholtz also strongly supports the concept of the European Research Area.

Positions

All published FP10 positions (both thematic and overarching)

January 2025

Simplifying European Research Funding (EN)

Considerations on Research Infrastructures in FP10 and their relation to Technology Infrastructures (EN)

Future Priorities for Information Research in Europe (EN)

December

Future Priorities for Earth and Environment Research in Europe (EN)

Future Priorities for Energy Research in Europe (EN)

Future Priorities for Health Research in Europe (EN)

Future Priorities for Matter Research in Europe (EN)

G6 position paper on FP10
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

February

Helmholtz Policy Considerations on the future EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (EN)
February

Contribution to the triple consultation of Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe and the strategic planning 2025 – 2027

Policy considerations on the orientation of the EU framework prowgramme for research and innovation

Legal, financial and implementation aspects

Thematic considerations regarding the research focus for the framework programme (strategic planning)

G6 position on the situation in Iran
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

April

G6 White Paper: The Future of European Research (Outcome of the high-level Ringberg Meeting organised by the G6)

September

G6 Statement on the EU UK Deal
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

December

G6 Statement on New Genomic Techniques: In-depth statement on the NGT proposal by the European Commission
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)
July

Helmholtz contribution to the „Horizon Europe – interim evaluation“

April

G6 Statement in support of the Stick to Science Initiative
(on the association of UK and Switzerland to Horizon Europe - with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

March

G6 Statement on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)
December

G6 Statement on Open Science
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

March

G6 Declaration on Freedom of Research
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

February

Statement on the "European Health Emergengy Preparedness and Response Authority"
November

G6 Declaration: Fundamental research is the basis for Europe’s competitiveness
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

July

Reaction to the proposal to cut Horizon Europe
G6 Open Letter to the President of the European Council: European decision makers must do better
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

Helmholtz Statement:
"Pharmaceutical Strategy - Timely patient access to affordable medicines"

June

G6 Declaration: Research budget in the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

May

Helmholtz Contribution:
"Guidelines for the Realignment of the European Research Area 2020"

Helmholtz Contribution:
The “European Green Deal”: Research is key to achieve the goals

April

First "ERAvsCorona" Action Plan - Comments by the Helmholtz Association

G6 Declaration: The future of research in Europe depends on the success of the ERC
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

March
Helmholtz Position on the "Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan" published by the European Commission
November

G6 Declaration: Knowledge is Europe’s engine
(with CNR, CNRS, CSIC, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society)

August

Key Messages for Research Infrastructures in “Horizon Europe”

April

Position Papers on FP9 - related to the Helmholtz Research Fields
Research Field Energy
Research Field Earth and Environment
Research Field Health
Research Field Key Technologies

March

New Position Paper on FP9
“Seizing the opportunities of European research beyond 2020”

Suggestions for Missions in FP9
Missions for European research beyond 2020 - Suggestions by the Helmholtz Association
(Update of the document published in Nov/Dec 2017)

Our services

For our Helmholtz Centers, we offer amongst others:

Information and analyses: on work programmes and calls for proposals in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
Consulting: center-specific, both legal-administrative and research-related
Representation of interests: events (in presence and virtually), (coordinated) statements and position papers
Targeted, individual ERC coaching for three funding lines
A hub in the EU heart of Brussels: two conference rooms with video conferencing systems, plus guest workstations

Dr. Ioannis Legouras

Head of the Brussels Office
- Ioannis.Legouras@helmholtz.de
- +32 2 5000 972
Alexandra-Sonja Lawson

• Assistant to the Head of Brussels Office
• Office administration, conference room
- alexandra-sonja.lawson@helmholtz.de
- +32 2 5000 970
Kristine August

PR & Public Affairs Manager/Deputy Head of Brussels Office
- kristine.august@helmholtz.de
- +32 2 5000 971
Dr. Andreas Krell

Delegate for the Research Field Earth and Environment
- andreas.krell@helmholtz.de
- +32 2 5000 973
Dr. Holger Ihssen

• Delegate for the Research Field Energy
• European Energy Research Alliance (EERA)
- holger.ihssen@helmholtz.de
- +49 151 1955 8933
Dr. Jens Jäger

• Delegate for the Research Field Health
• EIC
- jens.jaeger@helmholtz.de
- +32 2 5000 978
Nicolas Villacorta

• Delegate for the Research Field Matter
• Research infrastructures in the EU
- nicolas.villacorta@helmholtz.de
- +32 2 5000 979
Barbara Geilen

Office Management/Assistant to Delegates
- barbara.geilen@helmholtz.de
- +32 2 5000 982
Dorothea Kapitza

• Attorney
• DESCA
- dorothea.kapitza@helmholtz.de
- +32 2 5000 975

Achieving more together: The G6 network

The G6 network unites six large multidisciplinary European Research Performing Organisations: the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), the Helmholtz Association, the Leibniz-Gemeinschaft and the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft. Together, the G6 represent more than 140 000 professionals.

More information - the G6 website

A special service: The DESCA Agreement

The signature of a Consortium Agreement between the partners of a research project is mandatory for most EU research projects. DESCA (Development of a Simplified Consortium Agreement) is a comprehensive Model Consortium Agreement for such projects, the Helmholtz Office Brussels co-coordinates the DESCA core group.

DESCA website

Our address

Rue du Trône 98
1050 Brussels
Belgium

Internship

Join our team!

Twice a year we offer student internships in Brussels with a focus on research policy - the next one starts in September 2025.

Deadline for application is 21.04.2025 - we are looking forward to hearing from you!

All you need to know / apply here!

Helmholtz Centers

The Helmholtz Office Brussels

Helmholtz in Europe

Positions

Our services

Contact

Dr. Ioannis Legouras

Alexandra-Sonja Lawson

Kristine August

Dr. Andreas Krell

Dr. Holger Ihssen

Dr. Jens Jäger

Nicolas Villacorta

Barbara Geilen

Dorothea Kapitza

Achieving more together: The G6 network

A special service: The DESCA Agreement

Our address

Rue du Trône 98
1050 Brussels
Belgium

Internship

Helmholtz at a glance

Helmholtz Centers

Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security

Deutsche Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

German Cancer Research Center

German Aerospace Center

German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Forschungszentrum Jülich

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ

Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon

Helmholtz Munich

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Max Delbrück Center

As curious as we are? Discover more.

The Helmholtz Office Brussels

Helmholtz in Europe

2024-2025

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

Dr. Ioannis Legouras

Alexandra-Sonja Lawson

Kristine August

Dr. Andreas Krell

Dr. Holger Ihssen

Dr. Jens Jäger

Nicolas Villacorta

Barbara Geilen

Dorothea Kapitza

A special service: The DESCA Agreement

Our address

Rue du Trône 98 1050 Brussels Belgium

Internship

Rue du Trône 98
1050 Brussels
Belgium