1 07/05/2009 The ERCs Peer Review evaluation process Helsinki University of Technology Espoo, Finland Mikko Paalanen

2 07/05/2009 MY EXPERIENCE ON ERC ERC Starting Grant: Chairman of panel PE3 Evaluated nearly 200 applications Interviewed over 50 applicants

3 07/05/2009 ERC STARTING GRANT 2007: Over 9000 applications ~ 5% success rate in 1 st stage evaluation ~ 50% success rate in 2 nd stage evaluation

4 07/05/2009 ERC STARTING GRANT 2008: About 2000 applications ~ 20% success rate in 1 st stage evaluation ~ 50% success rate in 2 nd stage evaluation

5 07/05/2009 FUTURE APPLICANTS Your success rate will be about 10% You should be ready to - write a competitive proposal - invest at least 2 weeks for writing - obtain information about the evaluation process

6 07/05/2009 WHAT IS EVALUATED? Applicant - previous achievements - independence - added value of the grant to the applicant Research project - ground breaking nature - potential impact - research methods - risk/gain balance

7 07/05/2009 EVALUATION CRITERIA Scientific excellence - of the candidate - of the project

8 07/05/2009 EVALUATION CRITERIA The following criteria are not used - number of previous grants in the same country - number of previous grants in the same institute - amount of requested funding - nationality - gender - age

9 07/05/2009 EVALUATION PROCESS 1 ST STAGE EVALUATION - the synopsis of the proposal has 4 evaluators - evaluator has about 2 hours to read the proposal - proposal has to excite evaluators on first reading

10 07/05/2009 EVALUATION PROCESS 2 nd STAGE EVALUATION - full proposal has evaluators - evaluator has about 3 hours to read your proposal - 30-minute interview in Brussels

11 07/05/2009 GOOD APPLICATION First half page catches the interest of the evaluator Well composed and good English

12 07/05/2009 GOOD APPLICATION Demonstrates convincingly - your previous achievements - your leadership potential - your independence - uniqueness and impact of the project

13 07/05/2009 GOOD APPLICATION Realistic budget - justify the added value of the requested grant - dont ask for the maximum, if not needed - previous funding is viewed positively

14 07/05/2009 FEEDBACK TO APPLICANTS Reports of all evaluators Panel report Numerical grade

15 07/05/2009 GOOD LUCK!