erc funding opportunities - white rose brussels€¦ · starting grants established by the european...
TRANSCRIPT
Established by the European Commission
Dr Agnes Kulcsar Unit B2, Call and project follow-up coordination
ERC Scientific Management Department
Leeds, 14 June 2017
ERC Funding opportunities
Established by the European Commission
│ 2
Outline
Grant schemes
Submission of proposals
Evaluation process – StG/CoG/AdG
Preparing an application - hints and tips
Established by the European Commission
H2020 budget €77 billion
ERC budget €13 billion
ERC in H2020 Budget Horizon 2020
Established by the European Commission
Starting Grants
starters (2-7 years after PhD)
up to €1.5 Mio for 5 years + €500,000
Advanced Grants
track-record of significant research achievements in the
last 10 years up to €2.5 Mio
for 5 years + €1 Mio
Synergy Grants 2 – 4 Principal Investigators up to €10 Mio for 6 years
+ €4 Mio
Proof-of-Concept bridging gap between research - earliest stage
of marketable innovation up to €150,000 for ERC grant holders
ERC Grant Schemes
Consolidator Grants
consolidators (7-12 years after PhD) up
to €2 Mio for 5 years + €750,000
Established by the European Commission
Starting Grants
≥50% time in Europe (MS + AC) ≥50% working time on ERC project - show potential for research independence and evidence of maturity. - at least one important publication as main author or without the PhD supervisor.
Advanced Grants
≥50% time in Europe (MS + AC) ≥30% working time on ERC project - exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions.
Synergy Grants: each PI
≥50% time in Europe (MS + AC) ≥30% working time on ERC project
ERC Grant Schemes
Consolidator Grants
≥50% time in Europe (MS + AC) ≥40% working time on ERC project - show research independence and evidence of maturity; -several important publications as main author or without their PhD supervisor.
Established by the European Commission
Starting Grants
≥2 years ≤ PhD date ≤ 7 years • 1 January 2011 to 1
January 2016 • Counted from 1
January 2018 (call year)
Advanced Grants
• Researchers of any age • Track record of
significant research achievements in the last 10 years
Synergy Grants • Researchers of any age • Each PI: to present a track record
according to their career stage
ERC Grant Schemes
Consolidator Grants
7 years ≤ PhD date ≤ 12 years • 1 January 2006 to 31
December 2010 • Counted from 1
January 2018 (call year)
StG/CoG: Extensions of eligibility window possible for documented cases of: Maternity – 18 months per child (before or after PhD) Paternity – actual time taken off Military service Medical speciality training Caring for seriously ill family members No limit to the total extension
Established by the European Commission
│ 7
ERC calls Budget Call Opening Submission Deadline(s)
Advanced Grants
ERC-2017-AdG
567 M€ (245 grants)
16 May 2017
31 August 2017
Proof of Concept
ERC-2017-PoC 20 M€ 2 August 2016
19 January 2017
25 April 2017
5 September 2017
Starting Grants
ERC-2018-StG 583 M€
(391 grants)
18 July 2017
17 October 2017
Synergy Grants
ERC-2018-SyG 250 M€
(30 grants) 19 July 2017 14 November 2017
Consolidator Grants
ERC-2018-CoG
553 M€ (287 grants)
24 October 2017
15 February 2018
Advanced Grants
ERC-2018-AdG 452 M€
(194 grants)
17 May 2018
30 August 2018
Proposal submission ERC Work Programme 2017 calendar and tentative
dates for 2018 Work Programme
Established by the European Commission
│ 8
Part B1 (submitted as pdf) Evaluated in Step 1 & Step 2
Text box - Cross-domain nature explanation
a – Extended synopsis 5 pages
b – Curriculum vitae 2 pages
Appendix – Funding ID
c - Track-record 2 pages
Proposal Submission (on Participant Portal)
Proposal structure
Administrative forms (Part A)
1 – General information
2 – Administrative data of
participating organisations
3 – Budget
4 – Ethics
5 – Call specific questions
Part B2 (submitted as pdf)
NOT evaluated in Step 1 (Step 2 only)
Scientific proposal 15 pages
a – State-of-the-art and objectives
b – Methodology
c – Resources
Annexes Commitment of the host institution,
PhD certificates, etc
Guidelines and Recommendations in the 2018 Information for Applicants
Established by the European Commission
Have a bright, original and exciting idea
Design a research project to implement your idea
Get a letter of support from a Host Institution where the project is to be carried out (in EU or any of the H2020 associated countries)
Write your research proposal
Get feedback from your peers
Submit your research proposal before the deadline -> fully electronic/web based submission system
How to prepare an ERC research proposal?
Established by the European Commission
Social Sciences and Humanities SH1 Individuals, Markets and Organisations
SH2 Institutions, Values, Environment and Space
SH3 The Social World, Diversity, Population
SH4 The Human Mind and Its Complexity
SH5 Cultures and Cultural Production
SH6 The Study of the Human Past
Life Sciences LS1 Molecular and Structural Biology and
Biochemistry
LS2 Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
LS3 Cellular and Developmental Biology
LS4 Physiology, Pathophysiology and Endocrinology
LS5 Neurosciences and Neural Disorders
LS6 Immunity and Infection
LS7 Diagnostic Tools, Therapies , Applied Medical Technology & Public Health
LS8 Evolutionary, Population and Environmental Biology
LS9 Applied Life Sciences & Non-Medical Biotechnology
Physical Sciences & Engineering PE1 Mathematics
PE2 Fundamental Constituents of Matter
PE3 Condensed Matter Physics
PE4 Physical & Analytical Chemical Sciences
PE5 Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
PE6 Computer Science & Informatics
PE7 Systems & Communication Engineering
PE8 Products & Process Engineering
PE9 Universe Sciences
PE10 Earth System Science
Each panel: Panel Chair and 10-16 Panel Members
StG/CoG/AdG panel structure: 25 panels in 3 domains
PI applies to a panel
SyG: corresponding PI chooses keywords from 25 panels, but no panel
is selected
Established by the European Commission
│ 11
Submission to Panels StG/CoG/AdG
• Proposals are submitted to a Targeted Panel (of PI's choice)
Can flag one 'Secondary Review Panel'
• Applicant chooses his/her panel, this panel is 'responsible' and takes ownership for the evaluation of the particular proposal
• Switching proposals between panels not possible unless clear mistake on part of applicant, or due to the necessary expertise being available in a different panel
• But: In case of cross-panel or cross-domain proposals, evaluation by members of other panels possible
Established by the European Commission
Remote assessment by Panel members
of section 1, part B1: synopsis and PI
Panel meeting
Proposals retained
for step 2 (score A)
STEP 1
Remote assessment by Panel
members and reviewers of full
proposals: part B1+ B2
Panel meeting + interview
(StG+ CoG)
Ranked list of proposals
(scores A & B)
STEP 2
Feedback to
applicants
Evaluation procedure – StG/CoG/AdG Single submission, but a two-step evaluation
Redress
Proposals rejected
(score B & C)
Established by the European Commission
Scoring scheme – StG/CoG/AdG
• Score 'A': Fully meets the ERC excellence criterion and is recommended for funding if sufficient funds are available.
• Score 'B': Meets some but not all of the ERC’s excellence
criterion and will not be funded. If score B is awarded in step 1, PI may not submit a proposal to any call in the following year!
• Score 'C': Proposal is not of sufficient quality to pass to
Step 2 of the evaluation. The applicant may also be subject to resubmission limitations in the next call. PI may not submit a proposal to any call in the following two years!
│ 13
Established by the European Commission
Evaluation of excellence at two levels:
• Excellence of the Research Project
Ground breaking nature
Potential impact
Scientific Approach
Synergy grants: synergetic aspects in addition
• Excellence of the Principal Investigator
Intellectual capacity
Creativity
Commitment
What are the evaluation criteria? Excellence is the sole evaluation criterion
Established by the European Commission
│ 15
Questions to ask yourself as an
applicant
• Am I internationally competitive as a researcher at my career stage and in my discipline?
• Am I able to work independently, and to manage a 5-year project with a substantial budget?
• Why is my proposed project important?
• Does it promise to go substantially beyond the state of the art?
• Why am I the best/only person to carry it out?
• Is it timely? (Why wasn't it done in the past? Is it feasible now?)
• What's the risk? Is it justified by a substantial potential gain? Do I have a plan for managing the risk?
Established by the European Commission
In Step 1: Panel members (act as generalists) they see only Part B1 of your proposal: Prepare it accordingly!
Pay particular attention to the ground-breaking nature of the research project – no incremental research. State-of-the-art is not enough. Think big!
Know your competitors – what is the state of play and why is your idea and scientific approach outstanding?
Only the extended Synopsis is read at Step 1: concise and clear presentation is crucial (evaluators are not necessarily all experts in the field)
Outline of the methodological approach – feasibility is assessed
Show your scientific independence in your CV (model CV provided in the part B1 template)
Funding ID to be filled in
│ 16
Preparing an application - hints and tips Differences in Part B1 and Part B2
Established by the European Commission
Preparing an application - hints and tips Differences in Part B1 and Part B2
In Step 2: Both Part B1 and B2 are sent to specialists around the world (specialised external referees)
Do not just repeat the synopsis
Provide sufficient detail on methodology, work plan, selection of case
studies etc. (15 pages)
Check coherency of figures, justify requested resources
Explain involvement of team members
Provide alternative strategies to mitigate risk
│ 17
Established by the European Commission
Explain your budget properly!
• Budget analysis carried out in Step 2 evaluation. • Panels have responsibility to ensure that resources requested are
reasonable and well justified. • Budget cuts need to be justified on a proposal-by-proposal basis (no
across-the-board cuts). Not explained costs are often cut!
• Panels recommend a final maximum budget based on the resources allocated/removed.
• Panels do not 'micro-manage' project finances. • Awards made on a 'take-it-or-leave-it' basis: no negotiations.
Ask for funding for Open Access in case needed– this is obligatory in Horizon2020!
Rumour : Ask for more money, the reviewers will anyhow cut it down. NOT true: however, unexplained or non-motivated requests can be cut, so if you artificially inflate your budget, it will be reduced.
Established by the European Commission
When writing your CV
Remember that the CV/Track Record are as important as your project!
Explain what has been your own contribution to your key publications.
Explain publishing habits in your field and country if needed.
If you know that you have gaps or other issues in your CV (e.g. co-authored publications), explain them.
Describe activities which can indicate scientific maturity.
Use the template provided by the ERC in the submission system
Rumour : One needs publications in Nature/Science/High Impact Factor journals to succeed.
NOT true: in addition note: publishing with senior scientists (former supervisors) raises doubts about maturity/scientific independence.
│
Established by the European Commission
Preparing an application Hints and tips (Generalities)
Register early, get familiar with the system and templates and start filling in the forms
A submitted proposal can be revised until the call deadline by submitting a new version and overwriting the previous one
Follow the formatting rules and page limits.
Download and proof-read the proposal before submitting.
Make use of the help tools and call documents (Information for Applicants, Work Programme, Frequently asked questions) to prepare your proposal
Talk to the National Contact Points and your Institution's grant office
│ 20
Established by the European Commission
│ 21 Data as of 26/05/2014
Typical reasons for rejection
Principal investigator
Insufficient track-record
Insufficient (potential for) independence
Insufficient experience in leading projects (AdG)
Proposed project
• Scope: Too narrow too broad/unfocussed
• Incremental research
• Work plan not detailed enough/unclear
• Insufficient risk management
Established by the European Commission
Preparing your application Information sources
Check the ERC website for latest funding opportunities: https://erc.europa.eu/
Register early, get familiar with the European Commission's Participant Portal system,
download the templates and start filling in the forms
http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/home.html
View the step-by-step video Introduction to application process, including tips & tricks for the interview: https://vimeo.com/94179654
Use the help tools and call documents (Information for Applicants, Work Programme,
Frequently Asked Questions) to prepare your proposal
Read the guidelines carefully!
Find out about the formatting rules and page limits to respect!
Check statistics on ERC website
Talk to your Institution's grant office and other ERC grantees
Contact your National Contact Point if you have questions
Established by the European Commission
│ 23
Thank you!
Established by the European Commission
ERC offers selective and generous grants,
independence, recognition & visibility
Work on any research topic: completely
bottom-up
Gain financial autonomy for 5 years
Negotiate the best work conditions with the
host institution
Attract top team members and collaborators
(EU and non-EU)
Portability of grants
Attract additional funding and gain
recognition: ERC is a quality label
What does the ERC offer? Creative Freedom of the Individual Grantee
Established by the European Commission
6,000
40,000
€ 13 billion
90,000
677
67
After 9 Years, a Success Story
Established by the European Commission
StG 2015 Funded proposals by gender
Success rates by years past PhD
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Years past PhD
# f
un
ded
pro
po
sals
STG 2015 funded PIs by years past PhD
M (252)
F (99)
SR Female PIs (10 %)
SR Male PIs (13.4 %)
Established by the European Commission
CoG 2015 funded by proposals gender
Success rates by years past PhD
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19S
uccess r
ate
# f
un
ded
pro
po
sals
CoG 2015 funded PIs by years past PhD
M (208)
F (94)
SR Female PIs (16 %)
SR Male PIs (14.5 %)
Established by the European Commission
Scoring Scheme
│ 28
Proposals for immediate funding.
One or more reserve list proposals
may be funded. Unfunded applicants
can resubmit next year.
Proposals rejected (Step 1 or 2). No
resubmission next year if B awarded
in step 1
A score: within
panel budget
B score:
not funded
A score:
outside panel
budget
C score:
non fundable Proposals rejected (Step 1). No
resubmission next 2 years
Established by the European Commission
Average success rate 12%
│ 29
ERC schemes are highly competitive!
13.9%
16.1%
13.8% 13.4%
14.1%
12.3%
8.5%
14.4%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Advanced Grant
3.4%
10.2%
15.8%
12.1% 12.2%
9.2%
11.7% 12.2%
11.3%
8.7%
15.0% 14.9%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Starting/Consolidator Grant
StG
CoG
Established by the European Commission
│ 30
ERC Starting and Consolidator Grants 2018 The applicant’s profile
Potential for research independence
Evidence of scientific maturity
At least one (StG) /several (CoG) publications without participation of PhD
supervisor
Condition StG: PhD at least 2 and up to 7 years before 1 January 2018
Condition CoG: PhD over 7 and up to 12 years before 1 January 2018
“Am I competitive enough?”
Promising track-record of early achievements
• Significant publications
• Invited presentations in conferences
• Funding, patents, awards, prizes All these need to be shown in your proposal that will include your CV
and an early achievements track record.
Established by the European Commission
│ 31
ERC Advanced Grants The applicant’s profile
Exceptional leader in terms of originality and significance of your
research
Excellent track record and achievements during the last 10 years (this
time window can be extended in case of eligible career breaks)
“Am I competitive enough?”
Substantial track-record of significant research achievements
• as appropriate for the field
• publications in peer-reviewed journals, monographs, invited
presentations, funding, patents, awards, prizes
• Organisation of international conferences
• Major contributions to the early careers of excellent researchers
• Bibliometry may be one of the proxies used (where appropriate)
among many others
Established by the European Commission
Beware of Open Access!
• The ERC supports the principle of open access to
the published output of research, including in particular peer-reviewed
articles and monographs
research data and data related products such as computer code.
• Under Horizon 2020, beneficiaries of ERC grants must ensure open
access to all peer-reviewed scientific publications relating to their
results as set out in Article 29.2 of the ERC Model Grant Agreement.
• In 2017, for the first time under Horizon 2020, beneficiaries of ERC
grants will automatically be covered by the provisions on research
data sharing as set out in Article 29.3 of the ERC Model Grant
Agreement unless they specifically decide to opt-out.
Beneficiaries that do not opt-out should also ensure appropriate management
(including preservation and curation) of the research data they generate in order
to ensure its sustainability.
│ 32
Established by the European Commission
ERC panel members by country of HI and
gender ERC Starting, Consolidator and Advanced grant calls 2007 - 2014
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
UK
DE
FR IT NL
ES
SE
BE
AT
DK FI
PL
HU
PT
CZ
EL IE SI
BG
RO
HR
SK
CY
LT
EE
LU
LV
MT
CH IL
NO
TR
RS IS
MK
US
CA
AU JP
RU
HK IN AR
SA
SG
BR
CL
CN
KR
MX
TW UA
CU IR ZA
EU Associatecountries
International
# p
an
el m
em
bers
/pan
el
ch
air
s
ERC STG COG ADG panel members 2007-2014 by host institution country
M (71 %)
F (29 %)
Established by the European Commission
│ 34
Shall I apply now or wait another
year?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74
Su
cc
es
s r
ate
# g
ran
tees
age of grantee
STG COG ADG 2015 Age of grantees on 1 Jan 2015 with success rate
ADG
COG
STG
Success rate