1. European Research Council:
Funding Opportunities for Investigator-Initiated Frontier Research
Dr. Dimitri Harmegnies Research Project Adviser European Research Council Executive Agency

2. ERC: 15% Seventh Framework Programme for
Research and Technological Development
FP7 ( )
European Research Council
ERC: 15%
Total FP7 Budget: € 50.4 billion
ERC: new funding programme launched in 2007 as part of FP7: 7th Framework Programme for Research & Technological Development ( )
FP7 total budget = € 55 Bn ERC complements other FP7 funding programmes by targetting investigator driven frontier research
ERC executes Ideas Programme:
€ 7.51 billion

3. Keypoints No network requirements PI + HI
European Research Council
No network requirements
PI + HI
Investigator-driven (no preset of themes or priorities)
Opportunities…
The ERC Scientific Council 22 highly respected researchers reflecting the full scope of European research and scholarship Establishes ERC overall scientific strategy autonomous scientific governance
Monitors and controls quality and performance; Selects members of evaluation panels Ensures communication with the scientific community
Autonomous Executive Agency: ERCEA Executes annual work programme as established by the Scientific Council Implements calls for proposals and provides information and support to applicants Organises peer review evaluation Establishes and manages grant agreements

4. ERC actors The Scientific Council The Executive Agency
European Research Council
The Scientific Council
Independent scientific governing by 22 members
The Executive Agency
Implementation and management of work programme set up by Scientific Council
The European Union
Provides the financial means and legal framework
The ERC Scientific Council 22 highly respected researchers reflecting the full scope of European research and scholarship Establishes ERC overall scientific strategy autonomous scientific governance
Monitors and controls quality and performance; Selects members of evaluation panels Ensures communication with the scientific community
Autonomous Executive Agency: ERCEA Executes annual work programme as established by the Scientific Council Implements calls for proposals and provides information and support to applicants Organises peer review evaluation Establishes and manages grant agreements

5. European Research Council
ERC Budget : € 7.51 billion
Annual budget will increase during FP7 to > €1.7 bn by 2013
the ERC budget lies somewhere
between the budgets of large funding organisations, notably the UK research councils
and German Research Foundation (DFG)
US National Science Foundation (NSF) (ca. € 4.4 billion p.a.) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (ca. € 17.3 billion p.a.). 5

6. ERC: Aims
European Research Council
To reinforce excellence, dynamism and creativity in European research
improve career opportunities & independence for junior researchers
increase competitiveness & international visibility of established scientists and scholars in Europe
European added-value through competition at European level

7. Researcher involved in ERC research projects
European Research Council
Researchers Career development
and complementary ERC funding schemes
Funding schemes: Attractive, flexible grants
ERC Starting Grant (2-12 yrs post PhD)
ERC Advanced Grant
ERC Proof of Concept Grant (for ERC grantees)
ERC Synergy Grant (from 2012)
Senior
Professor
Full Professor
Junior Professor/
Associated Professor
Post-docs
StG funds 2-12 years post PhD: Starters 2-6 and Consolidators 7-12
AdG funds full professors, senior professors
PoC: both types of grantee
Synergy: both StG and AdG profiles
Earlier than PhD – research technicians and students staff on ERC grants
Post
Graduates
ERC grant holder
Students &
Research
assistants
Researcher involved in ERC research projects

8. ERC grant schemes: 2012 Call budget distribution
European Research Council
2012 total budget: €1,578.1M
AdG: Advanced Grants
StG: Starting Grants
Syn: ERC Synergy
PoC: Proof of Concept

9. Starting and Advanced Grants
European Research Council
Starting and Advanced Grants
As of 2012, funding of such proposals occurs via the allocated panels who receive external expertise 9

10. ERC Grant schemes 2012: StG and AdG
European Research Council
ERC Grant schemes 2012: StG and AdG
3 main scientific domains
LS: Life Sciences
PE: Physical Sciences and Engineering
SH: Social Sciences and Humanities
Previously ( ) 4th domain: Funded cross-panel or cross domain proposals.
As of 2012, funding of such proposals occurs via the allocated panels who receive external expertise 10 10

11. ERC Grant schemes : panels
European Research Council
ERC Grant schemes : panels
PE: Physical Sciences and Engineering
PE1 Mathematics
PE2 Fundamental constituents of matter
PE3 Condensed matter physics
PE4 Physical and analytical chemical sciences
PE5 Materials and synthesisPE6 Computer science and informatics
PE7 Systems and communication engineering
PE8 Products and processes engineering
PE9 Universe sciences
PE10 Earth system science
LS : 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 and public health
LS8 Evolutionary, population and environmental biology
LS9 Applied life sciences and biotechnology
As of 2012, funding of such proposals occurs via the allocated panels who receive external expertise
SH : Social Sciences and Humanities
SH1 Individuals, institutions and markets
SH2 Institutions, values, beliefs and behaviour
SH3 Environment, space and population
SH4 The Human Mind and its complexity
SH5 Cultures and cultural production
SH6 The study of the human past 11 11

12. ERC: Strategy (1/2) What kind of project?
European Research Council
What kind of project?
Excellence is the only criterion
Innovative breakthrough research: high risk/high gain
All fields of science and knowledge
Who can apply?
Excellent researchers (PIs) of any nationality, age or current place of work
In conjunction with a Host Institution (HI) based in Europe or associated countries
Individual research team: Free to choose national or trans-national team, if scientific added value, no consortia
The PI is expected to devote:
Starting Grant : at least 50% of her/his total working time to the ERC funded project and spend at least 50% of her/his total working time in an EU Member State or associated country;
Advanced Grant : at least 30% of her/his total working time to the ERC funded project and spend at least 50% of her/his total working time in an EU Member State or associated country

13. ERC: Strategy (2/2) Host Institution
European Research Council
Host Institution
An ERC grant is awarded to the institution (Applicant Legal Entity) that engages and hosts the Principal Investigator at least for the duration of the project….with the explicit commitment that this institution offers appropriate conditions for the Principal Investigator
The host institution must be established in a Member State or an associated country. It may also be an International European Interest Organisation (such as CERN, EMBL, etc.) or the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).
The host institution can be any legal entity (public or private), which has the infrastructure and capacity to carry out a frontier research project, such as a university, a research organisation or a research-performing company. Research-performing companies can host a PI as long as the PI's independence is not constrained by the research strategy of the company
The ERC welcomes applications from Principal Investigators hosted by private commercial research centres, including industrial laboratories.

14. Profile of StG applicant
European Research Council
Any nationality or age
Any current place of work
but: working or moving to work in Europe
2-12 years of experience after PhD
Potential for independence and evidence of maturity
e.g. publications without PhD supervisor
Track-record of early research achievements appropriate to the research field and career stage
 Starter & Consolidator streams

15. ERC StG: Starter and Consolidator streams
European Research Council
By definition in StG 2011 call
2-7 yrs post-PhD (starter)
7-12 yrs post-PhD (consolidator)
Extending eligibility window (max yrs) or changing stream possible
Career break
maternity & paternity (before or after PhD)
illness, clinical qualifications, national service, unemployment, volunteer work, etc (after PhD)
IMPORTANT: Panel makes final decision 15

16. Profile of AdG applicant
European Research Council
Active researchers having a track-record of significant research
achievements in the last 10 years
Benchmarks (one or more below) including
10 publications as senior author
3 major research monographs
Other (individually or in combination)
5 granted patents
10 invited presentations
3 research expeditions led by the applicant
3 organized prestigious conferences
International recognition through scientific prizes/awards
or membership in well-regarded academies 16

17. Composition of ERC Proposal
European Research Council
Panels evaluate
just this part
in Step 1!!!!!
PART A – online forms
A1 Proposal and PI info
A2 Host institution info
A3 Budget
PART B1 – submitted as .pdf
Track Record of PI
StG: early achievements
StG: Scientific Leadership Potential
AdG: last 10 yrs
CV (including “funding ID”)
Extended synopsis
Annexes – submitted as .pdf
On ethics
Host institution support letter
StG: PhD certificate
PART B2 – submitted as .pdf
Full project description
incl. budget & ethics table
Panels evaluate
this part only in Step 2!!! 17

18. ERC Grant schemes Review process (StG and AdG) Feedback to applicants
European Research Council
ERC Grant schemes
Review process (StG and AdG)
STEP 1
STEP 2
Remote assessment by Panel members and external reviewers of sections B1&B2
Remote assessment by Panel members of section B1
Step 2 Panel meeting (+ interview for StG)
Step 1 Panel meeting
Proposals retained
for step 2
Ranked list of proposals
Up to 3 times panel’s
Indicative budget
Proposals funded in priority order based on their rank
Feedback to
applicants
Feedback to
applicants 18 18

19. Evaluation criteria Principal investigator
European Research Council
Principal investigator
Research output (track record, achievements, reputation)
Intellectual capacity and creativity (independence)
Time commitment (an evaluation, not eligibility criterion)
Research project:
Ground-breaking nature (challenges, new concepts)
Potential impact (open new horizons)
Methodology (approach, timescale, resources, feasibility)
High risk/high gain balance (breakthrough vs incremental research) 19

20. Host institution Hosts the PI for the duration of the project
European Research Council
Hosts the PI for the duration of the project
Is a legal entity: university, research centre, business
research unit etc.
Is committed to ensure that the PI may
apply for funding independently
manage research and funding for the project
publish independently as senior author
have access to reasonable space and facilities
Signs Grant Agreement

21. Feedback to applicants
European Research Council
Step 1
A of sufficient quality to pass to step 2
B of high quality but not sufficient to pass to step 2
C is not of sufficient quality to pass to step 2 (resubmission limitations may apply)
B and C receive individual reports, panel comments and panel ranking
Step 2
A meets excellence criterion, will be funded if sufficient funds available
B meets some but not all elements of excellence criterion, will not be funded
A and B receive individual reports, panel comments and panel ranking 21 21

22. ERC Grant agreements
European Research Council
Simple and flexible, no negotiations – take it or leave it
Are portable
Additional funding for StG or AdG for researchers moving to Europe or Associated Countries or for purchase of major equipment
Cover 100% total eligible costs plus 20% indirect costs 22 22

23. ERC Grant schemes: StG and AdG
European Research Council
ERC Grant schemes: StG and AdG
Starting Grants
Advanced Grants
Attract/retain next-generation leaders
Establish independent research team & program
Attract/retain current world-leaders
Stimulate investigator-driven, breakthrough research
StG 2010
AdG 2010
Number of grantees
Age of grantees
Grantees by age in 2010 23

24. ERC Grant schemes: StG and AdG
European Research Council
ERC Grant schemes: StG and AdG
ERC grant distribution to countries
AdG , StG
│ 24

25. ERC Grant schemes: StG and AdG
European Research Council
ERC Grant schemes: StG and AdG
Success rates

26. ERC Grant schemes Overall Submissions (2007 – 2011) 9165 4080 2503
European Research Council
ERC Grant schemes
Overall Submissions (2007 – 2011)
9165
4080
2503
2873
2284
2167
2009
1584

27. ERC Grant schemes: StG and AdG
European Research Council
ERC Grant schemes: StG and AdG
Submissions to Life Sciences panels
Starting Grants
LS1 Molecular & Structural Biology & Biochemistry
LS2 Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics & Systems Biology
LS3 Cellular and Developmental Biology
LS4 Physiology, Pathophysiology & Endocrinology
LS5 Neurosciences & neural disorders
LS6 Immunity & infection
LS7 Diagnostic tools, therapies & public health
LS8 Evolutionary, population & environmental biology
LS9 Applied life sciences & biotechnology
Advanced Grants
12-15 panel members + panel chair
Panels assisted by external reviewers
StG and AdG each have 2 sets of alternating panels
Indicative budget is allocated on demand basis: probability of success is independent of panel

28. Opportunities PI… HI … European Research Council
The ERC Scientific Council 22 highly respected researchers reflecting the full scope of European research and scholarship Establishes ERC overall scientific strategy autonomous scientific governance
Monitors and controls quality and performance; Selects members of evaluation panels Ensures communication with the scientific community
Autonomous Executive Agency: ERCEA Executes annual work programme as established by the Scientific Council Implements calls for proposals and provides information and support to applicants Organises peer review evaluation Establishes and manages grant agreements

29. Submission Deadline(s)
Timetable of StG and AdG calls
European Research Council
ERC open calls
Publication of call
Submission Deadline(s)
Starting Grants
ERC-2012-StG
20 July 2011
PE: 12 Oct. 2011
LS: 09 Nov. 2011
SH: 24 Nov. 2011
Advanced grants
ERC-2012-AdG
16 November 2011
February -April 2012
│ 29 29 29

30. European Research Council
Proof of Concept
As of 2012, funding of such proposals occurs via the allocated panels who receive external expertise 30 30

31. Bridging the Innovation gap
ERC Proof of Concept
European Research Council
ERC call name
Budget
Size of Grants
Publication of call
Submission Deadline(s)
Proof of Concept
ERC-2011-PoC
€10M
CSA pilot
Max. €150,000 for 12mths
29 Mar. 2011
15 June 2011
78 proposals submitted
08 Nov. 2011
ERC-2012-PoC
(1% total budget)
02 Feb. 2012
03 May 2012
03 Oct. 2012
Bridging the Innovation gap
From ‘blue sky research’ to commercialisation
Fundamental research often generates opportunities for commercial application
ERC-funded excellent ideas
should not miss these opportunities!
Innovation

32. ERC Proof of Concept
European Research Council
Eligibility: Holders of an ERC grant with idea substantially drawn from an ERC-funded project
Proposal Submission: 2 deadlines per year, 7 page proposal with short description, early stage innovation strategy, plan of activities and budget
Evaluation:
In one step, non-scientific evaluation
Pass/fail on 3 criteria:
Innovation potential
Quality of the proof of concept plan
Budget
Outcome: A "package" to be presented to venture capitalists

33. European Research Council
Synergy grants
As of 2012, funding of such proposals occurs via the allocated panels who receive external expertise 33 33

34. Submission Deadline(s)
ERC Synergy Grants
European Research Council
ERC call name
Budget
Size of Grant
Publication of call
Submission Deadline(s)
ERC Synergy grant
ERC-2012-SyG
€150M
(10% total budget)
Max. €15M for upto six years
25 Oct. 2011
25 Jan. 2012
“Synergy” : from the Greek “συνεργός”  (synergós): “working together”
Investigator-driven ‘blue sky’ research
2-4 excellent PIs with complementary skills
Interdisciplinary research with added value

35. ERC Synergy: project profile
European Research Council
Sole criterion is excellence – not collaboration for its own sake
Investigator driven: no preset themes or priorities
Projects interdisciplinary in nature, using multidisciplinary approaches
Projects involve new combinations of skills and disciplines, bringing together researchers from different institutions, sectors or countries

36. ERC Synergy: PI profile
European Research Council
Small groups of 2 – 4 Principal Investigators, not consortia
No transnationality requirement
PIs ideally located in the same place for significant periods of the project
Time commitment of all PIs to project: at least 30% working time on project and 50% in an EU Member State or associated country
PIs with excellent track records of independent creative thinking, regardless of career stage
: groups can be from same country, city, campus or institution

37. ERC Synergy: proposal PART A – online forms
European Research Council
PART A – online forms
A1 Proposal and PI info
A2 Host institution info
A3 Budget
PART B1 – submitted as .pdf
Section 1 Scientific proposal 15 p.
Annexes – submitted as .pdf
- Statement of support by HI
- If applicable: explanatory information on ethical issues
PART B2 – submitted as .pdf
Section 2 Track Record of all PIs
Extended synopsis p.
CV (including “funding ID”) 2 p./PI
track record p./PI 37 37 37

38. Step 2 Panel meeting and interviews
ERC Synergy: evaluation
European Research Council
STEP 1 (5 panels)
STEP 2 (new panel)
Remote evaluation of full proposals by panel members and external referees
Panel members meet and examine retained proposals and their reports
Upto 2 times panel’s
Indicative budget
Select proposals for interview
Step 1 Panel meeting
Step 2 Panel meeting and interviews
Proposals retained
for step 2
Select proposals up to available budget
Upto 2.5 times panel’s
Indicative budget
Feedback to
applicants
Feedback to
applicants

39. Support ERC website: http://erc.europa.eu
European Research Council
ERC website:
Documents to read twice (with highlighter pen in hand!!!)
ERC Work Programme for the considered call
Guide for Applicants
Help
ERC National Contact Points
ERC Helpdesk
EPSS helpdesk (electronic proposal submission)

40. European Research Council
Thank you