The Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) is an independent platform of European learned societies and scientific organisations.

General dissatisfaction with science policy and funding instruments at European level and the lack of involvement of scientists in policy making has led European learned societies in the early 2000s to seek ways to advocate a stronger role for science in Europe.

Activities were first coordinated by the European Life Science Forum, but the initiative was rapidly joined by other disciplines and organisations.

As a consequence, the Initiative for Science in Europe was formally launched on 25 October 2004 in Paris, France.

The first President of ISE was Jose Mariano Gago, former Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education and one of the initiators of concept of European Research Area (ERA), followed by Julio Celis, Federico Mayor Zaragoza[2] former Director General of UNESCO, and Maria Leptin (former director of EMBO and President of the European Research Council).