1. 1 The FP7 Framework Programme “ERC (IDEAS)” Eva Rockman ISERD

2. 2 FP7 budget 50M€ Breakdown by specific programmes Cooperation 64% Ideas (ERC) 15% People 11% Capacities 8%

3. 3 FP7 ERC Programme FP7 ERC Programme ERC = European Research Council Starting Independent Researcher Grants (StG) Advanced Investigator Grants (AdG) Encourage and support excellent, innovative investigator-initiated research projects by leading advanced investigators - independent research leaders in their own right 2 nd call

4. 4 FP7 ERC Programme Increase competition, recognition for excellent individual scientists and scholars in Europe. Researchers gain high European and international visibility. Attract & reward established independent research leaders. Researchers retained in Europe. Support PI. Independent scientific governance. All areas of research. 100% reimbursement of projects. Frontier Research…

5. 5 What is Frontier research?  The term ‘frontier research’ reflects a new understanding of basic research.  Research at the frontier of knowledge increasingly important to competitiveness and welfare;  Research at and beyond the frontiers of understanding is an intrinsically risky venture, progressing on new and most exiting research areas  Characterized by an absence of disciplinary boundaries.

6. 6 ERC Advanced Grant  Flexible grants for ground-breaking, high-risk/high- gain research that opens new opportunities and directions including those of a multi- and inter- disciplinary nature  targeting researchers who are already established independent research leaders  for up to 5 years, i.e. normally up to ~2,500,000 Euro per grant (may go up to ~3.5M€ in specific cases)

7. 7 ERC Grants - Who can apply ?  Individual Research Teams: headed by a single “Principal Investigator” (team leader) of any nationality if necessary, including additional team members.  The PI has the freedom to choose the research topic and the power to assemble his/her research team (including “co-Investigators”) meeting the needs of the project.  Teams can be of national or trans-national character  Hosting institution located in an EU member state or associated country

8. 8 ERC Advanced Grant  Only one ERC Grant per investigator may be active at any time  One submission may be made to ERC-2008-AdG or ERC-2009-AdG  Submitting to ERC-2008-AdG or ERC-2009-AdG and failing quality threshold(s) will not be permitted to apply to ERC-2010-AdG  If you apply for AdG in 2008 or 2009, cannot apply for a StG during same period

9. 9 Proposal structure  Part A: Contains “normal” A1-A3 forms Plus additional “A1T”: “Track Record” –Summary of Scientific Leadership profile –Summary of 10 year Track Record  Part B: contains 3 sections & 1 annex –Section 1 –Scientific Leadership profile (2 pages) –CV (including “funding ID”) –10-years track record –Extended synopsis –Section 2 = Scientific proposal –Section 3 = Research Environment description –Statement of support from the Host Institution

10. 10 Benchmarks of 10 year “track record”  Senior author publications in major peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary scientific journals and/or in the leading peer-reviewed journals of their respective research fields  Monographs and any translations of monographs (if applicable).  Granted patents (if applicable)  Invited presentations into peer-reviewed, internationally established conferences and/or international advanced schools (if applicable)  Expeditions that the applicant has led (if applicable)  International conferences in the field of the applicant that have been organised (member of the steering and/or organising committee) by him/her (if applicable)  International Prizes/Awards/Academy memberships (if applicable

11. 11 Indicators of “leadership profile”  Content and impact of the major scientific or scholarly contributions of the applicant to his or her own research field and/or neighbouring research fields and, if applicable, their wider societal impact;  The international recognition and diffusion that these major contributions have received from others (publications or appropriate equivalents/additional funding/ students/international prizes and awards/ institution- building/other);  Ability to productively change research fields and/or to establish new interdisciplinary approaches

12. 12 Submission of proposals  Single submission (1 stage, 2 steps)  Electronic submission via EPSS  Early pre-registration strongly recommended  3 deadlines –Physical Sciences & Engineering on 28th February –Social Sciences & Humanities on 18th March –Life Sciences on 22nd April  20,000 proposals expected (?)

13. 13 Panel structure  3 domains – 25 panels  AdG Panels distinct from StG Panels  Selection of Panel Members responsibility of the ScC  Two sets of panels, meeting on alternative years  Members of “shadow panel” for given year can be used for remote evaluation

14. 14 Submission to Panels  Applicant submits to a Targeted Panel (of PI choice)  In case cross-panel or cross-domain proposal, evaluation by members of other panels  Indicative call budget Physical Sciences – 39% Social Sciences – 14% Life Sciences – 34% + 13% for Interdisciplinary – Cross Panel / Cross domain

15. 15 Two step evaluation  Step 1: –Section 1 of Part B evaluated against Criterion 1 (PI) and 2 (Research Project) –Proposal needs to pass threshold for both criteria to pass to second step In case of major oversubscription, panels may base their decisions on Form A1T (Track Record) + Extended Synopsis –Evaluated by Panel Members + possibly “shadow” panel members where necessary  Step 2: –All three sections evaluated against all three evaluation criteria –Evaluated by Panel Members + Remote Evaluators

16. 16 Evaluation process Step 2 (Panel + remote) Indiv assessments Individual marks Interdisciplinary flag PANEL MEETINGS Ranking Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Proposal Step 1 (panel) Indiv Assessments Individual Marks PANEL MEETINGS Ranking Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Proposal Submission + HI support letter Eligibility Check Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Proposal

17. 17 Interdisciplinary Domain  Interdisciplinary Research domain (cross-domain & cross-panel)  indicative budget of 13% total budget  Proposal submitted to a primary panel  Step 1: –Primary panel determines if proposal is “interdisciplinary” –Can take into account if secondary panel is indicated Proposal “flagged” as interdisciplinary, if appropriate –Possibility to invite reviews from members of other panels  Step 2: –Interdisciplinary proposals, not funded within panel budget, will be transferred to Interdisciplinary Domain for consideration there

18. 18 Coordination & Support Actions (CSA)  Support for monitoring and assessment of the ERC through call for tender and call for proposals: –Assessing the direct and indirect impacts of the ERC –Evaluating the implementation of the “Ideas” programme –Contributing to future ERC policy and initiatives  Support to Scientific Council (chairman and vice- chairs) through grants to named beneficiaries

19. 19 Applicants Services  ERC National Contact Points ISERD website: http://www.iserd.org.il/http://www.iserd.org.il/  Weizmann Research Authority: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/RGP_open/http://www.weizmann.ac.il/RGP_open/  ERC helpdesk: http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?lg=en&pg=enquiries http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?lg=en&pg=enquiries  ERC website: http://erc.europa.euhttp://erc.europa.eu  EPSS helpdesk: https://www.epss-fp7.org/epss/helpdesk.jsphttps://www.epss-fp7.org/epss/helpdesk.jsp

20. 20 Thank you for your Attention