Adrian Ionescu named Ambassador for the ERC
Adrian ionescu, 6th from left, leads EPFL's NanoLab. © ERC
The European Research Council (ERC) and the Association of ERC Grantees (AERG) launched the new Ambassadors for the ERC network on 28 April 2025. School of Engineering professor Adrian Ionescu is one of 32 grantees selected and nominated as an Ambassador.
According to an ERC press release, this joint initiative aims to promote investment in frontier research and highlight the importance of research by explaining how it benefits the economy and society.
The new ambassadors work across various domains, from life sciences to social sciences and humanities, to physical sciences and engineering. Among them are 17 women and 15 men from 21 EU Member States as well as five Associated Countries - Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK.
"I hope the ambassadors will become recognisable faces of ERC-funded research. This network has great potential to advocate effectively for frontier research across Europe. Together, we must keep reminding our fellow citizens why funding frontier research is not optional, and why it is essential for Europe's long-term health and prosperity," said Maria Leptin, President of the ERC.
The Ambassadors for the ERC will serve as influential advocates for frontier research in Europe, engaging with policymakers, the media, and local research communities to promote and safeguard its value. They will work together with the ERC National Contact Points (NCPs), who have a primary role in providing guidance, practical information and assistance to local researchers in their own language, on all aspects related to Horizon Europe. The mandate of the ambassadors is for one year with a possible renewal of up to six times based on the expression of interest.
Adrian M. Ionescu is head of the Nanoelectronic Devices Laboratory (NanoLab) in the School of Engineering. His research focuses in advanced nanoelectronics, with special emphasis on the technology, design, and modelling of nanoscale solid-state devices. He has pioneered breakthrough nanoelectronic technologies such as steep slope and phase change devices, integrated biosensors, and RF MEMS resonators for energy-efficient Edge AI and Internet of Things applications. He has a publication record over 500 articles in renowned journals and conferences, and is an IEEE Fellow. In 2024 he received the IEEE Technical Field Cledo Brunetti Award, ‘for leadership and contributions to the field of energy-efficient steep slope devices and technologies’.