Brussels, 06/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - Although no-one knows yet whether the 2007-2013 financial perspectives will allow adequate financing of the European Research Council, which is to see the light of day in the context of the 7th Framework Programme for Research, the Scientific Council of this body has appointed Greek biologist, Fotis Kafatos, as its chairman. Among other things, Kafatos served two successful terms as director-general of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). The Scientific Council has also appointed two vice-chairs: - Helga Nowotny, Chair of the European Research Advisory Board, that provides advisory services to the Commission, and Professor of Social Studies of Science at ETH, Zurich; - and Daniel Estève, Research Director CEA Saclay Service de Physique de l'état condense (SPEC). The Scientific Council is expected in future to be able to make a fully independent definition of fundamental research to be financed at the frontier of knowledge.