Editorial: The EPS revises and enlarges the recruitment of its Associate Members
The European Physical Society (EPS) is an umbrella organisation and learned society gathering 42 Member Societies representating 130,000 physicists. It involves more than 3500 individual members, 17 Divisions and Groups and more than 40 Associate Members. So far, the current Associate Members have mostly consisted of small-sized companies, universities or governmental organisations. In 2017, the EPS Executive Committee decided to revise the policy for recruiting its Associate Members and to broaden the scopes of its potential sponsors towards commerce and industry, in order to render the EPS more representative.
One year ago, a vast action was led to reorganise the EPS Associate Memberships into three different categories, becoming much more attractive to the industrial partners. This action was officially endorsed by the EPS Council held in 2017 in Erlangen (Germany) and received general approval by a large majority of all the Division and Groups of the EPS. Indeed, the cornerstone of this project is the deep involvement of the Divisions of our Society to make them benefit from the support given to the EPS by external societies and to help them to open their activities to applied research and industry through a win-win partnership.
The new policy offers the Associate Members to be officially recognised as a sponsor of all EPS activities and even to take part directly in the activities of the Divisions and Groups, whether they address scientific or societal issues. Three ‘packages’ with different membership fees and corresponding benefits will be offered to the new members, namely,
The EPS ‘Prestige’ Sponsorship will be for Associate Members who wish to sponsor the most prestigious prizes of the Society that often recognise potential Nobel Laureates. It is exclusive for major partners and tailored to their individual objectives and strategies.
The EPS Sponsorship for Societal Challenges will be for Associate Members who prefer to support the societal projects of the EPS, as led for instance by the Physics for Development Group, the Young Minds Committee, the Physics Education Division or the Equal Opportunities Committee.
The Supporter Associate Membership will provide the basic package for small and medium sized organisations that are seeking global exposure from EPS networks and events.
The EPS Divisions and Groups will play an important role in the new recruitment procedure of the Associate Members and they should thereby reinforce their links and cooperation with the EPS main governance.
Associate Membership is open to European research centres and institutions, universities, industrial partners, private companies, publishers and any organisation supporting physics and related areas. Applications are reviewed by the Executive Committee and the appropriate EPS Division or Group. The minimum membership fee for Associate Membership is:
- Euro 1500 for EPS Supporter Associate Members
- Euro 2500 for EPS Societal Challenges Sponsors
- Euro 5000 for EPS Prestige Sponsors
Depending on the Associate Membership package, the benefits cover the following.
- Exclusive invitations and participations to the EPS award ceremonies
- EPS recognition and visibility at EPS events and all communications channels
- Dedicated press releases in e-EPS, EPN, etc.
- Global exposure at EPS events
- Display Associate Members’ promotional material at EPS events
- Reduced Individual Member fees for Associate Member staff.
Advertising documents prepared by the EPS will be displayed during dedicated events or at EPS-sponsored conferences. They consist of the Associate Membership Form, the Associate Members and Sponsors Charter, a Booklet ‘Associate Membership Program’ and a Flyer (see figure), which can be found at the dedicated webpage:
https://www.eps.org/page/membership_am
Several important companies, not only in Europe, but from several continents, already manifested their interest in becoming an Associate Member or a Sponsor of the EPS through the wider variety of supports which our Society is now able to offer. Specific actions, e.g., workshops and meetings between young physicists and companies, should soon be proposed to amplify this initiative.
Don’t hesitate any longer in joining us. Contribute to the exciting life of the EPS promoting science and innovation, and ask to become an EPS Associate Member!
Luc Bergé
Member of the EPS Executive Committee
