ERC - Advance Grant Call 2008 Alejandro MARTIN HOBDEY ERC DG RTD Unit S-2 PC Meeting Brussels, 30 January 2008

European Research Council │ 2 Proposal structure Evaluation process Evaluation criteria Interdisciplinarity Demand management Planned Calls Overview of presentation

European Research Council │ 3 Single submission (1 stage, 2 step) Electronic submission via EPSS Early registration strongly recommended (though submission can be performed at the end) 3 deadlines  Physical Sciences on 28th February (open)  Social Sciences on 18th March  Life Sciences on 22nd April Submission of proposals

European Research Council │ 4 Proposal structure Part A: Contains “normal” A1-A3 forms Plus additional “A1T”: “Track Record” –Summary of Scientific Leadership profile –Summary table of 10 year Track Record Part B: contains 3 sections & 1 annex  Section 1 –Scientific Leadership profile (2 pages) –CV (including “funding ID”) –10-years track record –Extended synopsis  Section 2 = Scientific proposal  Section 3 = Research Environment description  Statement of support from the Host Institution

European Research Council │ 5 Panel structure 3 domains – 25 panels (modification of StG panel structure) AdG Panels distinct from StG Panels Selection of Panel Members responsibility of the ScC Two sets of panels, meeting on alternate years Members of “shadow panels” for given year can/will be used to help active panels for extra expertise and in case of oversubscription

European Research Council │ 6 Submission to Panels Applicant submits to a Targeted Panel (of PI choice )  Can choose one additional “Alternative Review Panel” In case cross-panel or cross-domain proposal, evaluation by members of other panels Indicative call budget Physical Sciences – 39% Social Sciences – 14% Life Sciences – 34% + 13% for Interdisciplinary – Cross Panel / Cross domain

European Research Council │ 7 Two step evaluation Step 1:  Section 1 of Part B evaluated against Criterion 1 (PI) and 2 (Research Project)  Proposal needs to pass threshold for both criteria to pass to second step Panels have information extracted from Form A1T (Track Record) to assist them in their decisions  Evaluated by Panel Members + possibly “shadow” panel members where necessary Step 2:  All three sections evaluated against all three evaluation criteria  Evaluated by Panel Members + Remote Evaluators

European Research Council │ 8 Evaluation process Step 2 (Panel + remote) Indiv assessments Individual marks Interdisciplinary flag PANEL MEETINGS Ranking Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Proposal Step 1 (panel) Indiv Assessments Individual Marks PANEL MEETINGS Ranking Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Proposal Submission + HI support letter Eligibility Check Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Proposal

European Research Council │ 9

European Research Council │ 10 Managing demand: lessons from StG Managing demand for grants  Maximise call budget  By combining budgets over 2 successive years (only one application per researcher in either 2008 or 2009)  Encourage the best to apply  Excellent track record (in recent years)  Strong leadership profile  Discourage trivial or low-quality applications  Applications should be substantive (one-stage submission with two stage evaluation)  Disincentives to submission of applications which are not of the highest quality

European Research Council │ 11 Only one AdG application for 2008 and 2009 calls (combined) Can only re-apply for 2010 AdG call if you are above threshold in Step 1 in 2008 or 2009 AdG Call If you apply for AdG in 2008 or 2009, cannot apply for a StG during same period Resubmission rules

European Research Council │ 12 Marking scheme Criteria 1 and 2 will be marked according to the following scheme: 4: Outstanding 3 Excellent 2 Very good 1 Non-fundable / fail Criteria 3 is pass fail Quality threshold of: >=2 Proposals below the quality threshold for either of the two criteria are eliminated (Step 1) / not fundable (Step 2) Proposals passing from Step 1 to Step 2 have to pass all thresholds, but also will be limited according to a given multiple of the funding available for that panel (~x3) Only those proposals that pass both quality thresholds in step 1 will be allowed to re-submit in Others have to wait to Eliminates the link between “proposal quality” and “passing to Step 2” that was criticized by many in the StG

European Research Council │ 13 Interdisciplinary Proposals / Domain Interdisciplinary Research domain (cross-domain & cross-panel)  indicative budget of 13% total budget Proposal submitted to a primary panel Step 1:  Primary panel determines if proposal is “interdisciplinary”  Can take into account if secondary panel is indicated Proposal “flagged” as interdisciplinary, if appropriate  Possibility to invite reviews from members of other panels Step 2:  Interdisciplinary proposals, not funded within panel budget, will be transferred to Interdisciplinary Domain for further consideration there  Decision taken at end of process by combined panel of all Panel Chairs Any funds not spent in ID domain to be returned “pro-rata” to the other three domains

European Research Council │ 14 “Co-Investigator projects” In addition to the PI, a project can have one or more “Co- PIs” or “Co-Investigators” These projects are subject to a higher financial limit (3.5 M€) BUT the CO-PIs are subject to the same re- submission rules as PIs! CO-PIs do not complete the A1T form, but have to complete Scientific leadership profile, CV and 10 year track record in Part B No link between Co-PIs (scientific issue) and existence of partners (administrative issue)

European Research Council │ 15 Financial limits Normal limit: 2.5 M€ for five years (pro-rata) Certain cases, limit raised to 3.5 M€ (pro-rata)  Co-investigator projects  Proposals that require the purchase of major research equipment  PI coming from third country to establish him/her self in the EU or Associated state Up to panel to decide whether this is justified or not.

European Research Council │ 16 ERC Calls Indicative Schedule ( ) Work Programme RevisionERC ActionCall openCall Deadline Estimated Call value (€ M) Budgetary yearEvaluation Feb. 2007StG1Winter 06Spring Spring - Autumn 07 May 2008 StG2Summer 08Autumn Winter 08 - Spring 09 May 2009StG3Summer 09Autumn Winter 09 - Spring 10 May 2010StG4Summer 10Autumn Winter 10 - Spring 11 ERC Starting Grant Calls Indicative Schedule Work Programme RevisionERC ActionCall openCall Deadline Estimated Call value (€ M) Budgetary yearEvaluation Oct. 2007AdG1Autumn 07Spring Spring 08 - Autumn 08 May 2008AdG2Autumn 08Spring Spring 09 - Autumn 09 May 2009AdG3Autumn 09Spring Spring 10 - Autumn 10 May 2010AdG4Autumn 10Spring Spring 11 - Autumn 11 ERC Advanced Grant Calls Indicative Schedule