the european research council - ctt.upc.edu lopez_ jornada ideas_upc... · • ask questions to the...

Funding Opportunities in 2013

Pilar López, Ph.D.

Scientific Officer

ERC Executive Agency

Scientific Department

The European Research Council

European Research Council

Established by the

European Commission

Background

Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and

Synergy Grant Funding Schemes

Data on submissions

│ 2

Outline


Established by the

European Commission

• Scientific Council with 22 members

• Support by the ERC Executive Agency

• Significant budget (1.2 billion €/year)

• Excellence as the only valid criterion

• Support for the individual scientist – no networks!

• International peer-review

• No predetermined subjects (bottom-up)

• Support of frontier research in all fields of science and

humanities │ 3

Le

gis

lati

on

S

tra

teg

y

The ERC supports excellence in frontier research through a

bottom-up, individual-based, pan-European competition.

What is the ERC?


Established by the

European Commission

10.8%

4%

7.3%

15.1%

17.8%

21.6%

23.4%

0

300

600

900

1200

1500

1800

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Mil

lio

n E

uro

FP7 budget € 50.5 billion

ERC budget € 7.5 billion; increase by € 250 M/year

Co-operation (65 %)

Ideas

(15 %)

People (9 %)

Capacities

(8 %) JRC non-

nuclear (3 %)


Established by the

European Commission

• Funds top scientists based all over the world working on frontier

research'

Evaluation only based on 'excellence'

Bottom-up, investigator driven approach

Sizeable and flexible grants that make a difference

• Retain excellent researchers in Europe and the Associated

Countries

• Repatriate and Recruit excellent researchers from outside

Europe to Europe and the Associated Countries

Funding Strategy


Established by the

European Commission

ERC offers independence, recognition & visibility

• to work on a research topic of own choice, with a team of own choice

• to gain true financial autonomy for 5 years

• to negotiate with the host institution the best conditions of work

• to attract top team members (EU and non-EU) and collaborators

• to move with the grant to any place in Europe if necessary (portability

of grants)

• to attract additional funding and gain recognition; ERC is a quality

label

ERC Funding Schemes


Established by the

European Commission

• Highly recognised by the research community

• More than 3000 funded proposals

• Working in >500 different host institutes in 27 countries; almost 5

billion euro

• Highly competitive (average success rate 12%)

• 50% of grantees in 50 institutes; 'Excellence attracts excellence'

• Benchmarking effect, e.g. competition between universities

• Efficient and fast grant management

After 5 years of existence……

A success story


Established by the

European Commission

Starting Grants 2-7 years after PhD

up to € 2.0 M for 5 years

Advanced Grants track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years


Synergy Grants 2 – 4 Principal Investigators


Proof-of-Concept bridging gap between research - earliest

stage of marketable innovation -

up to € 150 k for ERC grant holders

Consolidator Grants (new from 2013) 7-12 years after PhD


ERC Grant Schemes


Established by the

European Commission

Researchers career development

and complementary funding schemes

Post-docs

Senior Professor

Students

Post Graduates

Junior Professor/ Junior Researcher

Associated Professor

Full Professor

Erasmus

Marie Curie

ERC Advanced

ERC StG - Starters

ERC StG – Consolidators ERC SyG– Synergy


Established by the

European Commission

ERC Grant Schemes – who can apply?

• Excellent Researchers (PIs)

• Any nationality, age or current place of work

• In conjunction with a Host Institution

• Based in the EU or an Associated Country


Established by the

European Commission

Evaluation of excellence at two levels:

•Excellence of the Research Project

Ground breaking nature

Potential impact

Scientific Approach

Added-value of the Group (only SyG)

•Excellence of the Principal Investigator

Intellectual capacity

Creativity

Commitment

Referees and panels evaluate and score each criterion, which results

in a ranking of the proposals.

Excellence is the sole evaluation criterion


Established by the

European Commission

Social Sciences and Humanities

SH1 Individuals, institutions & 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

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

Life Sciences

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

Each panel: Panel Chair and

10-15 Panel Members

Panel Structure – 3 domains – 25 panels


Established by the

European Commission

Remote assessment by Panel members

of section 1 (Part B1 ONLY)

Panel meeting

Retained

proposals

STEP 1

Remote assessment by Panel

members and external reviewers of

all sections (Part B1 + Part B2)

Panel meeting + interview (StG

& CoG)

Ranked list of

proposals

STEP 2

Feedback to

applicants

Rejected

proposals Rejected

proposals

ERC Peer Review Evaluation: Single submission, two-step evaluation


Established by the

European Commission

Background

Starting, Consolidator and Advanced

Grant Funding Schemes

Data on submissions

│ 14

Outline


Established by the

European Commission

• Potential for (StG) or demonstrated research

independence (CoG)

• At least one (StG) or several (CoG) important

publications without the participation of your PhD

supervisor

• Promising track-record of early achievements

Significant publications

Invited publications

Funding, awards, prizes

Starting and Consolidator Grants: Profile of an applicant


Established by the

European Commission

• At least 2 – 7 years post PhD (StG)

• At least 7 – 12 years post PhD (CoG)

• Extensions to this period are possible( maternity

leave, long illness, military service)

Eligibility


Established by the

European Commission

• 1.5 M Euro (StG)

• 2.0 M Euro (CoG)

• 3.0 M Euro (AdG)

• 100% total eligible direct costs (salaries,

equipment, etc)

Grant Size


Established by the

European Commission

│ 18

ERC Advanced Grants The applicant’s profile

Track-record of significant research

achievements in the last 10 years

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

Principal Investigator was an organiser

International prizes/awards


Established by the

European Commission

Before submitting the proposal

• Read the work programme and the Guide for

applicants! from the ERC website or Cordis • http://cordis.europa.eu/

• http://erc.europa.eu/

• 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

│ 19

http://cordis.europa.eu/

http://erc.europa.eu/


Established by the

European Commission

│ 20

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)

Proposal structure


Established by the

European Commission

• Part B1 = 'The PI'

• Extended synopsis (5 pgs)

• CV (2 pgs)

• Early achievement track-record (2 pgs)

• Part B2 = Full Scientific Proposal (15 pgs)

• Ethical Review information (where appropriate)

• Separate additional documents:

Host Institution Support Letter (headed letter with signature, stamp, date)

Copy of PhD document

Documents to prove extension to the eligibility window

Proposal Structure – Part B


Established by the

European Commission

• Allow sufficient time to prepare your application

• Talk to the Grants Office

• Your Profile

Major accomplishments; capacity and creativity;

competitive edge; independence

Be accurate

Caution: assert; do not sell

Preparing an application (1)


Established by the

European Commission

Scientific proposal (15 pages) with an extended

synopsis (5 pages) and an abstract

State-of-the-art is not enough

Explain ground-breaking features, high-risk/high-

gain balance

Have alternative strategies to mitigate risk

Justify the use of your resources



Established by the

European Commission

Follow the formatting rules and page limits

Proof-read the proposal well

Have all your documentation ready in time

Submit in advance of the deadline



Established by the

European Commission

Evaluation of proposals Evaluation principles

Evaluation based on peer review, the procedure is defined by

the Scientific Council

Sole evaluation criteria: “excellence”.

Excellence is implemented through the selection of well-known,

knowledgeable top researchers as panel members

High level Panel Members add credibility / visibility / prestige to the programme (Several Panel Members with Nobel Prize winners)

Panel Members are selected and recruited by ERC Scientific Council

Who evaluate the proposals ?

Panel members: typically 600 / call

high-level well-known scientists

recruited by ScC from all over the world: ~14%

from outside Europe

typically 12 members & the chair/panel

Referees: typically 2000 / call

evaluate only a small number of proposals

similar to normal practise in peer-reviewed

journals

are nominated by the panel members

Europe and Associated

Countries

(86%)

US (7%)

Other

(7%)


Established by the

European Commission

Possibility to exclude reviewers (new

since 2012)

PI can nominate up to three persons to be excluded from the evaluation

of their proposal, specifying the reason for exclusion: Direct scientific rivalry

Professional Hostility

Similar situation which would impair or put in doubt the objectivity of the

potential evaluator

Exclusion may concern any independent expert, including the panel

chair, panel members as well as remote referees

The concerned persons will be excluded from the evaluation of the

proposal assuming that the ERCEA is still in a position to evaluate the

proposal properly

Schemes Evaluation of Excellence:

Criterion 1: Research Project

Ground-breaking nature and potential impact of

the research: To what extent does the proposed research address important

challenges?

To what extent are the objectives ambitious and beyond the

state of the art (e.g. novel concepts and approaches or

development across disciplines)?

How much is the proposed research high risk/high gain?

StG and CoG Schemes Evaluation of Excellence

Criterion 2: Principal Investigator(s)

Intellectual capacity, creativity and commitment: The PI has demonstrated the ability to propose and conduct ground-

breaking research and his/her achievements have typically gone

beyond the state-of-the-art

The PI provides abundant evidence of creative independent thinking

The ERC Grant would contribute significantly to the establishment

and/or further consolidation of the PI's independence

The PI is strongly committed to the project and demonstrates the

willingness to devote a significant amount of time to the project (min

50% of the total working time on it and min 50% in an EU Member

State or Associated Country) (based on Scientific Proposal).


Established by the

European Commission

ERC calls Call Publication Submission

Deadline

Starting Grant ERC-2013-StG

10 July 2012

17 Oct. 2012

Advanced Grant ERC-2013-AdG

10 July 2012

22 Nov. 2012

Synergy Grant ERC-2013-SyG

10 October 2012

10 Jan. 2013

Consolidator Grant ERC-2013-CoG

7 November 2012 21 Feb. 2013

Timetable of 2013 ERC calls Single deadlines for all Calls


Established by the

European Commission

AdG: Advanced Grants

CoG: Consolidator Grants

StG: Starting Grants

SyG: ERC Synergy

PoC: Proof of Concept

Call budget distribution for 2013 calls

2012 total budget: € 1,578.1 M

2013 total budget: € 1,754.9 M

StG; 398; 23% CoG; 523; 30%

AdG; 662; 38%

SyG; 150; 8%

10; 0.6%

11,96; 0.7%

Otros; 21,96;

1%

StG

CoG

AdG

SyG

PoC

Admin


Established by the

European Commission

Breakdown per domain

• 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)

Call budget distribution (by domain)

for 2013 calls


Established by the

European Commission

Background

Starting and Consolidator Grant

Funding Schemes

Data on submissions

│ 33

Outline


Established by the

European Commission

│ 34

ERC Competitions 2007-2012

Data as of 26/09/2012

Evaluated* Funded success rates**

Starting Grant 2007 9.167 8.787 299 3,4

Starting Grant 2009 2.503 2.392 245 10,2

Starting Grant 2010 2.873 2.767 436 15,8

Starting Grant 2011 4.080 4.005 486 12,1

Starting Grant 2012*** 4.741 4.653 536 11,5

Starting Grant 23.364 22.604 2.002 10,6

Advanced Grant 2008 2.167 2.034 282 13,9

Advanced Grant 2009 1.584 1.526 245 16,1

Advanced Grant 2010 2.009 1.967 271 13,8

Advanced Grant 2011 2.284 2.245 301 13,4

Advanced Grant 8.044 7.772 1.099 14,3

Proof of Concept 2011 - 1&2 151 139 51 36,7

Proof of Concept 2012 - 1*** 75 60 33 55,0

Proof of Concept 226 199 84 45,8

* withdrawn and ineligible proposals not taken into account

** percentage of funded proposals in relation to evaluated proposals

*** selected

Total number of

applications

received

of which


Established by the

European Commission

• ERC supports independent excellent researchers

• Making a difference – over 3000 funded to date

• If you think that you could be a possible candidate

– get as much information as you can

• Calls for 2014 through to 2020

Summary


Established by the

European Commission

Relation with National Agencies II

│ 36

Some funding agencies uses ERC evaluation results in support research

National initiatives

in support of

finalist projects

in the ERC calls

A new partnership between

National Funding Councils

and ERC

BE Flanders: FWO

supports the best

ranked PIs on the

ERC-StG reserve list

CY: Research

Promotion

Foundation

supported StG

2009 finalists

FI: support scheme

for finalists in reserve

lists since 2009 calls

FR: ANR launched

an initiative to

support unfunded

StG2007 finalists

HU: Call for unfunded

ERC finalists of

StG2007 and StG2009

IE: New scheme opening

in 2012. Previous scheme

for StG2007 finalists

IT: Call open to all

unfunded StG2007

finalists

LU: FNR supports

unfunded StG and

AdG finalists since

2009 calls

NO: The Research Council

supports unfunded StG finalists

SI: Complementary

scheme for unfunded

finalists of 2010 calls

ES: support for unfunded

finalists of StG calls since 2007

CH: SNSF launched

an initiative to back

unfunded StG2007

finalists

TR: Considers a

scheme to support

unfunded ERC finalists

PL: Support scheme for

finalists of 2009 and 2010

calls. It might continue

EL: support for unfunded

StG and AdG finalists in

2010 and 2011 calls

BG: Develops a

scheme to financially

support projects in the

ERC reserve list

CZ: opened

support scheme

for finalists in 2012

PT: New national initiative

in support of ERC finalists

being developed

RO: opened support scheme

for finalists in 2012

SE: support for unfunded

finalists of StG calls since 2007


Established by the

European Commission

New scheme: ERC Synergy grant

2012 work programme on a pilot basis

2 – 4 Principal Investigators; complementary skills, knowledge & resources; to jointly address frontier research problems

Up to €15m for up to six years

Based on ERC principles (no consortia, no networks):

• bottom-up and risk-taking

• driven by scientific demand

• PIs expected to spend significant “core time” together

• only one Host Institution, but groups not required to be physically located in the same place

710 submissions to the first Synergy Call


Established by the

European Commission

│ 38

Step 1a (single panel)

Remote evaluation of short

proposals by panel members

Panel chairs meet: preselect

proposals for full review

Panel meeting: proposals

retained for Step 2a

Step 2a (1 new panel)

Panel members reassess the

retained proposals based on their

step 1 reports

Panel meeting and interviews

Panel meeting: Select

proposals for interview

Select proposals up to available

budget

2.5 times available budget Proposals funded in priority order based

on their rank

1.5 times available budget Step 1b (formation of 5 panels)

Up to 7 times available budget

Step 2b (Same panel as 2a) – Remote evaluation of full proposals

by panel members and external

evaluators

Synergy 2012 Evaluation Procedure


Established by the

European Commission

HORIZON 2020

HORIZON 2020 structure:

Excellence Science

Industrial leadership

Societal challenges

EIT

JRC

Excellent Science: reinforcing and extending the excellence of the

EU’s science base and consolidating ERA to make EU’s R&I system

more competitive on a global scale

European Research Council (budget proposal under H2020: € 15 billion)

Future and Emerging Technologies

Marie Curie

Research Infrastructures

│ 39


Established by the

European Commission

Budget proposal under H2020

Co-operation (65 %)

Ideas (15 %)

People (9 %)

Capacities (8 %) JRC non-

nuclear (3 %)

FP7 budget € 50.5 billion

ERC budget € 7.5 billion

H2020 budget € 88 billion

ERC budget € 15 billion

JRC

(2.5%)

EIT

(3.6%)ERC

(17.1%)

Industrial

leadership

(23.1%)

Other Excellent

science (14.6%)

Societal

challenges

(39%)


Established by the

European Commission

ERC in FP7 and in H2020 : Changes and Continuity

Strengthening the Scientific Governance of the European Research Council

Strengthening the links between the Scientific Council and the Executive Agency Merging positions of President of ERC and Secretary General Full-time President based in Brussels 3 Vice-Chairs elected from amongst the Scientific Council members

Strengthening the role of Scientists in the Steering Committee of the ERCEA Strengthening the relation of the Scientific Council and the ERCEA

Essential features maintained

Independent Scientific Council with full authority over funding strategy Executive Agency with autonomous operation Scientific excellence - the sole criterion on which ERC grants are awarded


Established by the

European Commission

More information

on

http://erc.europa.eu

To subscribe to the ERC newsletter http://erc.europa.eu/keep-updated-erc

National Contact Points

http://cordis.europa.eu/national_service/home_en.html


Established by the

European Commission

Gracias!!!

│ 43