gianpietro van de goor · 6/15/2007 · gianpietro van de goor erc/european commission rtd,...

Gianpietro van de GoorERC/European Commission

RTD, Directorate S

Fax +32-2-2993173

The European Research CouncilNIS-NEST meeting, 15 June 2007

European Research Council

│ 2

Basic / Frontier researchBasic / Frontier researchin Europein Europe

National activities:─ Research councils (DFG-1920, CNR-1923, CNRS-1939,

SNF-1952), academies, etc.

Intergovernmental activities: ─ CERN (1953), ESO (1962), ESA (1962/1975), EMBO (1963),

ILL (1967), COST (1971), ESF (1974), EMBL (1978), Eureka (1985), ITER (1988), ESRF (1988), INTAS (1993)

EU activities (“supranational”): ─ ECSC – Euratom – EC (1957), JRC (1959), JET (1973),

FP1 (1984) … FP7 (2006-2013)─ European Research Area – ERA (2000)─ FP7 (2006-2013): Ideas/ERCIdeas/ERC, Marie Curie fellowships,

research infrastructures, thematic priority areas


│ 3

1.1. LegalLegal BaseBase

2. Organisation & Management

3. Funding Strategy & Grant Schemes

4. 1st call for ERC Starting Grant proposals: Facts and Conclusions

OverviewOverview


│ 4

FP7 (EC)FP7 (EC)

7th Framework Programme (FP7)“Family” of FP7 Specific Programmes

Co-operationIdeasIdeasPeopleCapacities

Ideas: complementary to other FP7 supportpolicy vs. science-driven, bottom-up vs. targeted research

FP7 Rules for Participation (RfP)


│ 5

FP7 FP7 IdeasIdeas ProgrammeProgramme

Creates the ERC (new “institution”):Scientific Council (ScC)Dedicated Implementation Structure (DIS)

Provides funding:€ 7.51 bn (2007-2013), around 15% of FP7 budgetAverage budget: € ~1 bn per year

Sets overall objectives for researchand operating principlesBy 2010: review of ERC structure and mechanisms


│ 6

Based on Specific Programme « Ideas »

ERC Establishing ActSets up the components of the ERC (ScC, SG, DIS)

Based on Council Regulation (EC) N° 58/2003ERC Executive Agency Establishing Act (not adopted yet)

Sets up the ERC Executive Agency

ERC Executive Agency Delegation Act (not adopted yet)Delegates powers to the ERC Executive Agency

ERC ERC Legal TextsLegal Texts


│ 7

1. Evolution & Aim

2.2. Organisation & ManagementOrganisation & Management



OverviewOverview


│ 8

ERC ActorsERC Actors

The Scientific CouncilIndependent scientific governance

The AgencyPractical implementation and management of operations

The European UnionProviding the financial means


│ 9

The European UnionThe European Union(represented by the European Commission)(represented by the European Commission)

Provides financingthrough the EU framework programmes

Guarantees autonomyof the ERC

Assures the integrity and accountabilityof the ERC

Adopts annual work programmesas established by the Scientific Council


│ 10

The AgencyThe Agency““Dedicated Implementation StructureDedicated Implementation Structure””

Executes annual work programmeas established by the Scientific Council

Implements calls for proposalsand provides information and support to applicants

Organises peer review evaluationEstablishes and manages grant agreementsAdministers scientific and financial aspectsand follow-up of grant agreements


│ 11

The AgencyThe Agency““Establishing the ERC Executive AgencyEstablishing the ERC Executive Agency””

Progressive establishment of ERC Executive Agency─ Principles of lean and efficient management apply

First: Building up of capacities and operational methods as dedicated service within CommissionThen: Transition to agency structure

─ Executive Agency will be legally established in the second half of 2007 and is expected to be fully operational by mid-2008

Review of ERC structure by 2010


│ 12

The Scientific CouncilThe Scientific CouncilMembers & RoleMembers & Role

•22 most respected researchers reflecting the full scope of European research and scholarship

proposed by an independentidentification committeeappointed by the Commission(for 4 years, renewable once)

•Role:Establishes overall scientific strategyestablishes annual work programmes (incl. calls for proposals, evaluation criteria); defines peer review methodology; ensures selection and accreditation of expertsControls quality of operations and managementEnsures communication with the scientific community


│ 13

The ERC BoardThe ERC BoardLinking strategy and operationsLinking strategy and operations

Prof. Fotis KafatosPresident of the ERC

Prof. Helga NowotnyDr Daniel EsteveVice-Presidents of the ERC

Prof. Ernst-Ludwig WinnackerERC Secretary-General

Jack MettheyDirector of ERC DIS(EC RTD Directorate S)


│ 14

1. Evolution & Aim


3.3. FundingFunding StrategyStrategy & Grant & Grant SchemesSchemes


OverviewOverview


│ 15

Boost European excellence in frontier researchby investing in the best researchers and ideasthrough competition at European levelon the basis of scientific excellence as the sole criterionraising incentives towards quality and aspirations of individual researchersproviding benchmarks and leverage towards broader (structural) improvements in European research

Strategic AimsStrategic AimsOverviewOverview


│ 16

ERC GrantsERC GrantsStrategic principlesStrategic principles

All fields of science and scholarship are eligibleinvestigator-driven, bottom-up

Excellence is the only valid criterionindividual team + research project

Investment in research talentAttractive, flexible grants, up to five years

under control of the lead researcher (PI)

Independent individual teams in Europenationality of researchers is not relevant

host organisation to be located in EU or AS


│ 17

ERC Grant SchemesERC Grant SchemesLaunch Strategy of ERC Scientific CouncilLaunch Strategy of ERC Scientific Council

Retain – Repatriate – RecruitFavour “brain gain” and “reverse brain drain”

increase competition, recognition and international visibilityfor excellent individual scientists and scholars in Europe

ERC Advanced Grant: attract & reward established independent research leaders, up to 5 years, up to € 2.5 Mio.

Keep (young) researchers in Europeimprove career opportunities and independence - especiallyfor young researchers

ERC Starting Grant: attract & retain the next generation of independent research leaders, up to 5 years, up to € 2.0 Mio.


│ 18

ERC budgetERC budget20072007--20132013

Total (FP7 Ideas budget): € 7.51 bn≈1/3 Starting Grants, ≈ 2/3 Advanced GrantsLess than 5% for operational ERC management

1st Call StG only, € 300 Mio., call closed on 25 April 2007Budget allocated to three areas (for operational reasons)

2nd Call AdG only, Autumn 2007, € 550 Mio.

3rd call onwards:StG + AdG ≈ € 1.0 bn per year


│ 19

Individual Research Teams:headed by a single “Principal Investigator” (team leader)

of any nationality

if necessary, including additional team members.

The “Principal Investigator” has the freedom to choose the research topic and the power to assemble his/her research team meeting the needs of the project.

Teams can be of national or trans-national character.

ERC GrantsERC GrantsWho can apply ?Who can apply ?


│ 20

Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation CriteriaScientific Excellence is the sole criterionScientific Excellence is the sole criterion

1. Potential of Principal Investigator2. Quality of research project3. Research Environment and Resources

Referees and panels evaluate and score criteria under Heading 1 and Heading 2 numerically which will result in the ranking of the projects:− 0-5 points, in increments of 0.5− Threshold 8 / 10Criteria under Heading 3 will be considered as "pass/fail" and commented but not scored


│ 21

ERC Starting Grant ERC Starting Grant 20 peer review panels in 3 domains20 peer review panels in 3 domains

Area 1: Physical Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Universe and Earth Sciences (8 panels)

Area 2: Biological and Life Sciences (7 panels)Area 3: Social Sciences and Humanities (5 panels)

- Each panel consists of one Panel Chair and 10-12 panel members

- Panel Chair oversees evaluation process for the proposals assigned to his/her panel in collaboration with the ERC staff

- The Panel Chair gives high level stamp of credibility and visibility to the whole evaluation process


│ 22

Starting Grant PanelsStarting Grant PanelsInterdisciplinary, forward-looking constitution

Examples for the ERC Panel Structure and Keywords

SH1: Individuals and OrganisationsSH1: Individuals and Organisations: economics, management, demography, geography, urban and environmental studies

PE8: Earth System sciencePE8: Earth System science: physical geography, geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, climatology, ecology, global environmental change, biogeochemical cackles, solar planets, natural resources

LS5: Evolutionary, population and environmental LS5: Evolutionary, population and environmental biologybiology: evolution, ecology, animal behaviour, population biology, biodiversity, biogeography, marine biology, ecotoxicology


│ 23

Allocation to Panels

Reading and Assessment by Panel members

Panel meetings

Proposals retained for Stage 2

Proposals Stage 1

Reading by Remote Referees

Proposals Stage 2

Interviews of applicants

Panel meetings

Panel chairs meetings

Proposals selected

ERC Submission, Evaluation ERC Submission, Evaluation and Selection Processand Selection Process


│ 24

Evaluation Report is sent to each applicant

Final decision of panel

Comments by the panel

Comments by individual reviewers,

referees, panel members/evaluators

ERC Starting GrantERC Starting GrantFeedbackFeedback


│ 25

1. Evolution & Aim



4.4. 11stst call for ERC call for ERC StartingStarting Grant Grant proposalsproposals: : FactsFacts and Conclusionsand Conclusions

OverviewOverview


│ 26

ERC covers all fields of science, engineering and scholarshipFor operational reasons the ScC agreed on 3 main research domains:

─ Physical Sciences & Engineering─ Biological & Life Sciences─ Social Sciences and Humanities

Pre-allocation of call budget for ERC Grants per domain as follows:

45% - 40% - 15%

ERC Starting GrantERC Starting GrantBudget AllocationBudget Allocation


│ 27

DomainNumber

of proposals

%of

proposals

% of budget

pre-allocated*

Life Sciences 3,396 37,0

48,1

14,9

40

Physical Sciences & Engineering 4,408 45

Social Sciences & Humanities 1,363 15

Total 9,167

1st Call ERC Starting Grant 1st Call ERC Starting Grant Massive responseMassive response

*Indicative budget established by ScC (Work programme 2007)


│ 28

EPSS coped well with massive responseFirst ERC call for proposals closed on 25/04 without any significant technical issue. Total number of proposals: 9.167 (registration figure: 11.251)The peak transaction time for the reference transaction was 1.5 secondsThe system handled a peak of 36 transactions a second

ERC Starting Grant ERC Starting Grant Electronic submissionElectronic submission


│ 29

ERC Starting GrantERC Starting GrantStatistics

Some preliminary statistics are available:average requested grant size: 1 M€Female/male applicants: 30/70%Mostly from single institutions:

Broad distribution of time for PI after PhD:Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

% 1.7 8.7 13.6 14.6 15.1 15.0 13.6 12.4 4.2

No. of Inst. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 22

No. of Prop. 8011 578 268 124 74 41 20 20 12 6 3 2 4 1 2 1


│ 30

Proposals mostly involve single institution• 87% of proposals involve 1 institution• 7% of proposals involve 2 institutions• 2% of proposals involve 3 institutions

The concept of “individual teams” has been well applied.

Time after PhD• 84% of PIs received PhD between 3 and 8 years ago

11stst Call ERC Starting GrantCall ERC Starting GrantConstitution of Individual Teams, Constitution of Individual Teams, ““AgeAge”” of PIof PI


│ 31

11stst Call ERC Starting Grant Call ERC Starting Grant Geographical distribution of applicationsGeographical distribution of applications

* Based on the total of 9167 submitted proposals (before eligibility check)

Cluster PI residence % Host Institutionlocation %

EU-27 88.9 (8207) 92.2

12 new Member States 8.6 (796) 8.8

7 EU-associated or candidates countries(CH, HR, IL, IS, NO, RS, TR)

7.9 (715) 7.8

Overseas 3.2 (244) 0

100* 100*


│ 32

Dealing with high numbers of applications

Plan B is activeplan A < 5000 applications, plan B > 5000 applications

Recruitment of about 600 additional Panel Evaluators

Strict time management: ERC DIS working long hours, holidays, weekends

Assistance in conducting the evaluation process byexperts seconded from National Funding Agencies

1st Call ERC Starting Grant1st Call ERC Starting GrantOperational measuresOperational measures


│ 33

Call closure 25/04/07Remote evaluations (stage 1) May-JunePanel meetings (stage 1) June-JulyInvitation for stage 2 JulyLetters of rejection AugustSubmission deadline (stage 2) 17/09/07Panel meetings & Interviews October-NovFeedback to applicants Dec-Jan

ERC Starting GrantERC Starting GrantTimelineTimeline


│ 34

Call for ERC Advanced Grant Call for ERC Advanced Grant Consequences from 1Consequences from 1stst call experience call experience

• Call for ERC Advanced Grants put forward Call in autumn 2007, deadlines in early 2008

• Reduce over-subscriptionTrack record will become important

• Adjusted panel structure

For discussion/decision-making at the nextScientific Council and ERC Board meetings


│ 35

Thank you !

gianpietro van de goor · 6/15/2007 · gianpietro van de goor erc/european commission rtd,...

Documents