European Research Council. FP7 IDEAS Programme The European Research Council. Funding possibilities from The Europen Research Council.

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1 FP7 IDEAS Programme The Funding possibilities from The Europen Research Council Gabor Nagy

2 Achievements of the ERC - so far more than funded proposals, 58% of them StG in more than 480 different host institutions in 26 countries, total 4 billion but excellence attracts excellence : 50% of PIs in 50 institutions highly competitive: average success rate 12 % strong structuring effects: competition between European universities for first time ever, EU value added strengthening merit-based evaluation systems in Europe 2

3 Main points Types of grants How to prepare a grant Evaluation process

4 Main points Types of grants How to prepare a grant Evaluation process

5 Researchers Career development and complementary funding schemes ERC Advanced Senior Professor ERC SyG Synergy ERC StG Consolidators Marie Curie ERC StG - Starters Junior Professor/ Junior Researcher Associated Professor Full Professor Erasmus Students Post Graduates Post-docs

6 ERC Grant schemes Starting and Consolidator Grants Starters (2-7 years after PhD) up to 2.0 Mio for 5 years Consolidators (7-12 years after PhD) up to 2.75 Mio for 5 years Advanced Grants track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years up to 3.5 Mio for 5 years Synergy Grants 2 4 Principal Investigators up to 15.0 Mio for 6 years Proof-of-Concept bridging gap between research - earliest stage of marketable innovation up to 150,000 for ERC grant holders

7 ERC Grant Schemes Funding Strategy Funds top scientists based all over Europe working on Frontier Research Evaluation only based on excellence Bottom up, Principal Investigator approach Sizeable and flexible grants that make a difference Repatriate and Recruit excellent researchers from outside Europe Retain excellent researchers in Europe

8 ERC grant schemes 2013 Call budget distribution 2013 total budget: 1,75 M AdG: Advanced Grants StG&CoG: Starting Grants AdG 662M Syn PoC 10M Syn: ERC Synergy PoC: Proof of Concept StG 398 CoG 523 other 8M50M 8

9 Call budget distribution by domain Indicative call budget Life Sciences LS Physical Sciences & Engineering PE Social Sciences & Humanities SH Within each domain, budget is broken down according to total funding requested per panel => equal chance in each panel 9

10 ERC Grant schemes: Who can apply? Excellent Researchers (PIs) Any nationality, any age or any current place of work In conjunction with a Host Institution Based in EU or associated countries 10

11 Main points Types of grants How to prepare a grant Evaluation process

12 Before submitting the proposal Read the Work Programme and the Guide for applicants! from the ERC website or Cordis Get your idea clear. Ask the following questions: Is this a groundbreaking idea? Can I prove that I will go beyond the State of the art Have I been able to identify the innovation components of my research Ask questions to the NCP 12

13 Submission of proposals Single submission One deadline per Call ( ) to a targeted panel electronic only Eligibility check deadline strictly enforced all parts and annexes present and readable

14 Avoid administrative failure : main reasons Ineligibility submission after the deadline incomplete proposals including annexes no commitment letter from HI!!! Check the template given HI outside EU MS or AC PhD award date (>12 or <2) Missing supporting official document Re-application Multiple application only one active ERC grant at any time only one application per PI within given work programme Can only re-apply to 2013 if not awarded a C in 2012

15 Submission of proposals Proposal structure PART A online forms A1 Proposal and PI info A2 Host Institution info A3 Budget PART B1 submitted as.pdf CV 2 p. Track Record 2 p. Extended Synopsis 5 p. Annexes submitted as.pdf Statement of support of HI If applicable: explanatory information on ethical issues; copy of PhD (StG & CoG); document for extension of eligibility window (StG & CoG) PART B2 submitted as.pdf Scientific Proposal 15 p. (incl. budget table) Read the Guide for Applicants

16 Submission of proposals Details on Part B Part B1 = Section 1 of Part B = The PI o o o o o o CV (2 pages): academic and research record, funding, career breaks 10-year track record (or early achievements for StG&CoG) (2 pages: publications, patents, conferences, prizes and awards Extended synopsis (5 pages): concise presentation of the scientific proposal including the scientific feasibility of the project particular attention to its ground-breaking nature and how it may open up new horizons or opportunities for research 16

17 Submission of proposals Details on Part B Part B2 = Section 2 of part B = Full Scientific proposal (15 page): detailed descriptions on the project's aim, planning, execution, and required resources. Includes budget table and PI dedication Annexes: o Ethical Review information (where appropriate) o Separate additional documents: Host Institution Support Letter (all) Copy of Ph.D. (compulsory StG & CoG) Documents to prove extension to eligibility window (StG & CoG) 17

18 Submission is to Panels Proposals are submitted to a Target Panel (of PI's choice; can flag one Secondary Review Panel ) This panel is responsible and takes ownership for the evaluation of the particular proposal Proposals only switched between panels if 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 18

19 ERC Grant Schemes (StG, CoG, AdG) Panel structure : 3 domains and 25 panels Life Sciences Each panel : Panel Chair and Panel Members 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 Social Sciences and Humanities SH1 Individuals, institutions & markets SH2 Institutions, values, beliefs and behaviour SH3 Environment & society SH4 The Human Mind and its complexity SH5 Cultures & cultural production SH6 The study of the human past Physical Sciences & Engineering PE1 Mathematical foundations PE2 Fundamental constituents of matter PE3 Condensed matter physics PE4 Physical & Analytical Chemical sciences PE5 Materials & Synthesis PE6 Computer science & informatics PE7 Systems & communication engineering PE8 Products & process engineering PE9 Universe sciences PE10 Earth system science 19

20 Main points Types of grants How to prepare a grant Evaluation process

21 ERC Evaluation: Scientific Excellence is the sole criterion Evaluation of Excellence at two levels: Quality of the Principal Investigator Quality of the Research Project Panel Members and Referees evaluate and score criteria numerically; Panels rank the proposals and propose for funding

22 Evaluation of proposals Evaluators Panel members: typically 400 / call o o o High-level scientists Recruited by ScC from all over the world: ~14% from outside Europe About members plus a chair person Referees: typically 1500 / call o o Evaluate only a small number of proposals Similar to normal practise in peerreviewed journals US (7%) Other (7%) Europe and Associated Countries (86%) 22

23 ERC Peer review evaluation: Single submission, two-step evaluation STEP 1 STEP 2 Remote assessment by Panel members of section 1 (Part B1 ONLY!!!) Remote assessment by Panel members and external reviewers of all sections (PartB1 + PartB2) Panel meeting Panel meeting + interview (StG & CoG) Rejected proposals Retained proposals Ranked list of proposals Rejected proposals Feedback to applicants 23

24 The profile of a StG & CoG applicants Potential for research independence Evidence of scientific maturity At least one (StG) /several (CoG) publications without participation of PhD supervisor Promising track-record of early achievements significant publications invited presentations in conferences funding, patents, awards, prizes

25 ERC Starting and Consolidator Grants Size of the grant and eligibility Possible requested amount: max. 1,500,000 (StG) or 2,000,000 (CoG) for 5 years + 500,000 (StG) or (CoG) if new research activity in EU: moving from third country, purchase of major equipment, access to large facilitiies Eligible costs: Costs supporting the project (personnel, equipment, consumables, travel, admin) Dedication of min: 50% of PI s working time to the ERC-funded project First PhD awarded 2-12 years before call publication date - starters (PhD award: 2-7 years) - consolidators (PhD award: 7-12 years) - Extension may be accepted for specific and duly justified reasons (maternity leave, )

26 # Proposals funded Number of proposals and success rate vs. Years past Ph.D ERC STG 2011 Results Of Call Funded Proposals and Success rate by Years passed PhD # Years passed PhD 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% funded success rate

27 The profile of a AdG applicant Track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10yrs Exceptional leaders and mentors 10 publications as senior author in major scientific journals 5 granted patents 10 invited presentations at international conferences 3 international conferences where PI was an organiser International prizes/awards MS and PhD Students 27

28 ERC Advanced Grants (AdG) Size of the grant and eligibility Possible requested amount: max. 2,500,000 for 5 years + 1,000,000 if moving from third country to MS or AC, purchase of major equipment, access to large facility Eligible cost: costs supporting the project (personnel, equipment, consumables, travel, admin) Dedication of min. 50% of PI s working time in a EU MS or AC and min. 30% of PI s working time to the ERC-funded project 28

29 Considerations for the evaluation Write the proposal in a clear way ( The experts come from many different countries so try to make it understandable). Make sure someone reads the proposal before submitting it to get constructive feedback. Highlight the innovation components. Don't try to contact the panel members. Prepare for the interview- contact your NCP or previous grantees. 29

30 Evaluation Criteria Excellence as sole criterion, to apply to: 1. Research Project (RP) Ground breaking nature Potential impact Scientific Approach Added value of the Group (only SyG) 2. Principle Investigator (PI) Intellectual capacity Creativity Commitment 30

31 ERC Synergy Grants: new pilot scheme in 2012 Small groups of 2-4 researchers (not networks!) Unique configuration of scientists with complementary skills No thematic priorities Researchers can be in same country, even same institution High risk/high gain research Possible requested amount: max. 15 M for up to 6 years

32 ERC Synergy Grants: Facts & Figures for 2012 call Call Budget Grant Size Submission Deadline Number of submissions received 150M 10% total budget Max. 15M up to six yrs 25 Jan Number of researchers Average requested Funding decision Expected success rate 2255 Ave: 3.1 per proposal 8.3 million Early Jan 2013 Approx 2.5% Approx 18 grants

33 ERC Proof of Concept grants: for ERC Grantees ERC call name Budget Size of Grants Publication of call Submission Deadline(s) Proof of Concept ERC-2012-PoC 10M (1% total budget) Max. 150,000 for 12mths 02 Feb May Oct From blue sky research to commercialisation ERC-funded excellent ideas should not miss opportunities to generate innovation! Bridging the Innovation gap Innovation

34 Host institution Not evaluated during evaluation process! Applicant legal entity: institution that engages and hosts the PI for the duration of the project Any type of legal entity: universities, research centres, business research units as long as it is in MS or AC Commitment of HI: 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 34

35 Planned timetable 2013 Calls Call Planned publication date Planned closure date StG July October 2012 AdG July November 2012 SyG October January 2013 CoG November February 2013 Single deadlines for all Calls

36 The Statistical Data

37 ERC Competitions Total number of applications received of which Evaluated* Funded success rates** Starting Grant ,167 8, Starting Grant ,503 2, Starting Grant ,873 2, Starting Grant ,080 4, Starting Grant 18,623 17,951 1, Advanced Grant ,167 2, Advanced Grant ,583 1, Advanced Grant ,009 1, Advanced Grant 2011*** 2,284 2, Advanced Grant 8,043 7,772 1, Proof of Concept Proof of Concept *** Proof of Concept * withdrawn and ineligible proposals not taken into account ** percentage of funded proposals in relation to evaluated proposals *** selected 37

38 No of funded projects Funded projects ERC Starting & Advanced grant calls % +12% % StG-2007 StG-2009 StG-2010 StG-2011 AdG AdG AdG AdG StG AdG

39 France Austria The Netherlands UK Germany Belgium Denmark Sweden Spain Hungary Estonia Finland Ireland Cyprus Portugal Italy Czech Republic Greece Bulgaria Poland Slovenia Switzerland Israel Norway Iceland Turkey awarded/evaluated proposals (%) Success rates ERC Starting & Advanced grant calls Success rates per country of HI

40 40

41 number ERC grantees International exchange of researchers ERC Starting & Advanced grant calls Nationals abroad Non-nationals in the country UK CH DE FR NL AT ES SE IT DK BE NO FI IE IL PT HU CZ CY BG SI EL RO PL TR HR EE LU LT MT RS SK

42 Number of assignments* ERC panel members by country of HI and gender ERC Starting and Advanced grant calls Averaged over the first eight ERC calls 34% of the ERC panel members were women. Men Women UK DE FR IT ES NL SE BE AT DK FI PL HU CZ PT EL IE RO BG CY SK LT EE SI CH IL NO TR RS HR IS US JP CA AU TW CL HK RU UA AR MX EU Member States Associated C. International Country of Panel Member's Host Institution * no of instances that experts of a certain country of origin are being used