Grants

New Application Process for ERC Grants:

1. Two-Part Proposal Structure:

   • Part I (5 pages):

     • Focus on the current state of knowledge, the scientific question, objectives, and overall research strategy to address the project goals. This part is assessed in Step 1 to determine if the idea has significant originality and merit.

     • Feasibility is not evaluated at this stage to encourage innovative and risky proposals.

   • Part II (7 pages):

     • Provide detailed descriptions of the project’s implementation, including methodology, work plan, risk assessment, budgeting, and any contextual background necessary for understanding the project.

     • Assessed in Step 2 after shortlisted proposals progress from Part I.

2. Panel Workload Adjustments:

   • The number of reviewers per proposal has been reduced from four to three, although additional reviewers can be assigned if necessary.

   • At Step 1, written feedback on applicants will be replaced with structured ratings to streamline evaluations.

   • Any proposal receiving at least one score above 3.5 will be discussed, while those scoring 3.5 or lower do not require discussion unless requested.

3. Eligibility Adjustments:

   • Starting Grant eligibility has been extended to cover immediately after PhD defense to 10 years post-PhD.

   • Consolidator Grant eligibility now ranges from 5 to 15 years post-PhD, allowing broader access based on varied career paths.

Writing an ERC Grant:

• Part I: Crafting a Compelling Proposal:

  1. Establish Context: Clearly outline the current state of knowledge and existing challenges in the field.

  2. Define Objectives: State the main scientific questions and objectives you aim to address.

  3. Outline Strategy: Describe your overarching approach or research strategy; make it clear why your project is original and promising.

• Part II: Implementation Details:

  1. Methodology: Provide a comprehensive plan of the methodologies you will employ, ensuring to justify your approaches.

  2. Work Plan: Detail the timeline for your project.

  3. Risk Management: Identify potential challenges and your strategies to mitigate risks.

  4. Budget Justification: Clearly justify the budget and resources needed for your project.

  5. Related Grants: Include an annex with information on any ongoing or pending funding related to your proposal.

Final Considerations:

• Keep in mind the structural separation of the proposal parts and avoid redundancy.

• Focus on originality and creativity in Part I while ensuring rigorous detail and clarity in Part II.

• Stay updated on any additional guidelines and feedback mechanisms provided by the ERC as these processes may adapt over time based on community input.