Planning an ERC Consolidator proposal? Review services available

The European Research Council (ERC) is expected to open its Consolidator Grant Scheme  during next few days with a deadline 4.2.2020. The aim of the ERC Consolidator Grant is to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they may still be consolidating their own independent research team or programme. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their scientific proposal.

As the scheme is highly competitive, the Research Support Services would like to offer support and review services to the PIs preparing a proposal and planning to submit an ERC CoG proposal. The review services are available for a limited number of applicants. Please express your interest by 4^th of November by sending an email to me.

The ERC Work Programme 2020 is available here

Information for applicants here

ERC Consolidator grants

Who can apply?

Researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD (Extensions are possible under certain circumstances — see the latest ERC Work Programme), a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal.

What proposals are eligible?

· Criteria
Applications can be made in any field of research. The ERC's grants operate on a 'bottom-up' basis without predetermined priorities.

·

· Host Institution
Applications for an ERC grant must be submitted by a single Principal Investigator (PI) in conjunction with and on behalf of their Host Institution, called the applicant legal entity..
The PI does not necessarily need to be working at the Host Institution at the time when the proposal is submitted. However, a mutual agreement and the Host Institution’s commitment on how the relationship will be established are necessary, should the proposal be successful.

·

· Team
ERC grants support projects carried out by an individual researcher who can employ researchers of any nationality as team members. It is also possible to have one or more team members located in a non-European country.

How much?

Consolidator Grants may be awarded up to € 2 million for a period of 5 years. (pro rata for projects of shorter duration). However, an additional € 1 million can be made available to cover eligible “start-up” costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU or an associated country and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities and/or other major experimental and field work costs.

Best wishes

Päivi