You have a groundbreaking project idea and you are a scientist who wants to consolidate his independence by establishing a research team? Your PhD has been awarded at least 7, but not more than 12 years ago (extensions are possible under certain circumstances)? Then the funding program of the European Research Council might be just right for you.
 
Content and aim of the programme
ERC grants are highly regarded as a measure of excellence in the international research community and have a sustained positive effect on the career development of individual researchers. But how do you prepare for an ERC Grant effectively, if success rates are at 10-15%?
 
The workshop provides essential guidance to navigate the ERC application process and prepare both the research project and the curriculum vitae to address the evaluation criteria successfully. Building on more than 12 years of professional experience with the ERC and nearly 100 successful proposals, the programme translates ERC-specific terminology, such as “groundbreaking”, “innovative”, “ambitious”, for the individual setting and explains unwritten rules. It also covers typical profiles of ERC Consolidator Grant holders, a self-assessment, the critical importance of panel selection, understanding of who the reviewers are, and the timing of proposal submission.
 
Your benefits
By participating in the programme, you will be better equipped to
• Understand the highly competitive nature and logic of the ERC evaluation process
• Decide at which career stage to submit your ERC proposal
• Respond effectively to ERC objectives and evaluation criteria
• Align your ERC project with your research track record
• Tailor the two key parts of the proposal, B1 and B2, to different stages of the evaluation
• Select the most appropriate evaluation panel
• Prepare a realistic timeline for proposal development
• Identify and harness existing professional support, both inhouse and external
 
Methods
The hands-on programme consists of an interactive one-day workshop with two experienced trainers followed by optional individual consultancy sessions on the following two days. Participants are expected to prepare a one-page outline of their potential ERC project and a one-page CV prior to the workshop. The workshop employs theory input, plenary discussions, a self-assessment and a writing activity, as well as sharing of experiences. The optional individual consultancy session provides the opportunity to probe further into the feasibility of the research idea for ERC funding, review the individual track record and determine next steps.
 
Diese Veranstaltung findet in englischer Sprache statt.