ERC in the European Research Landscape

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1 The European Research Council ERC in the European Research Landscape Jean-Pierre BOURGUIGNON ERC President J.-P. BOURGUIGNON

2 Strategy Legislation What is ERC? The ERC supports excellence in frontier research through a bottom-up, individual-based, pan-european competition Scientific governance: independent Scientific Council with 22 members including the ERC President; full authority over funding strategy Support by the ERC Executive Agency (autonomous) Quality as the only criterion aiming for excellence Support for the individual scientist no networks! Global peer-review No predetermined subjects (bottom-up) Support of frontier research in all fields of science and humanities J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 2

3 ERC Achievements top researchers funded (65% are at an early-career stage); 64 nationalities represented J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 3

4 ERC Achievements top researchers funded (65% are at an early-career stage); 64 nationalities represented Highly competitive (average success rate tending to 10%) J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 4

5 ERC Achievements top researchers funded (65% are at an early-career stage); 64 nationalities represented Highly competitive (average success rate tending to 10%) Grants located in almost 600 different institutions in 29 countries J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 5

6 ERC Achievements top researchers funded (65% are at an early-career stage); 64 nationalities represented Highly competitive (average success rate tending to 10%) Grants located in almost 600 different institutions in 29 countries 50% of grantees in 50 institutions : Excellence attracts excellence J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 6

7 ERC Achievements top researchers funded (65% are at an early-career stage); 64 nationalities represented Highly competitive (average success rate tending to 10%) Grants located in almost 600 different institutions in 29 countries 50% of grantees in 50 institutions : Excellence attracts excellence Benchmarking effect: impact on national programmes and agencies; national funding for best "runners-up J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 7

8 ERC Achievements top researchers funded (65% are at an early-career stage); 64 nationalities represented Highly competitive (average success rate tending to 10%) Grants located in almost 600 different institutions in 29 countries 50% of grantees in 50 institutions : Excellence attracts excellence Benchmarking effect: impact on national programmes and agencies; national funding for best "runners-up" Efficient and fast grant management J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 8

9 ERC Achievements top researchers funded (65% are at an early-career stage); 64 nationalities represented Highly competitive (average success rate tending to 10%) Grants located in almost 600 different institutions in 29 countries 50% of grantees in 50 institutions : Excellence attracts excellence Benchmarking effect: impact on national programmes and agencies; national funding for best "runners-up" Efficient and fast grant management Highly recognised by the research community J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 9

10 ERC Funding Schemes Starting Grants starters (2-7 years after PhD) up to 2.0 Mio for 5 years Consolidator Grants consolidators (7-12 years after PhD) up to 2.75 Mio for 5 years Advanced Grants track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years up to 3.5 Mio for 5 years Proof-of-Concept bridging gap between research - earliest stage of marketable innovation up to 150,000 for ERC grant holders J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 10

11 ERC Calls Starting and Consolidator grant calls * withdrawn and ineligible proposals not taken into account ** percentage of funded proposals in relation to evaluated proposals J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 11

12 ERC Calls Advanced grant calls Total number of applications Evaluated* of which Funded success rates** Advanced Grant ,9 Advanced Grant ,1 Advanced Grant ,8 Advanced Grant ,4 Advanced Grant ,1 Advanced Grant ,3 Advanced Grant ,9 * withdrawn and ineligible proposals not taken into account ** percentage of funded proposals in relation to evaluated proposals J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 12

13 ERC Calls Other calls Total number of applications of which Evaluated* Funded success rates** Proof of Concept & ,7 Proof of Concept & ,0 Proof of Concept & ,0 Proof of Concept ,9 Synergy Grant ,6 Synergy Grant ,0 * withdrawn and ineligible proposals not taken into account ** percentage of funded proposals in relation to evaluated proposals J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 13

14 Creative Freedom of Grantees ERC offers independence, recognition & visibility to work on a research topic of own choice, with a team of own choice J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 14

15 Creative Freedom of Grantees 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 J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 15

16 Creative Freedom of Grantees 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 *) Host institution refers to the organisation with which the first grant agreement was signed J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 16

17 Creative Freedom of Grantees 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 move with the grant to any place in Europe if necessary (portability of grants) *) Host institution refers to the organisation with which the first grant agreement was signed J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 17

18 Creative Freedom of Grantees 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 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 *) Host institution refers to the organisation with which the first grant agreement was signed J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 18

19 Creative Freedom of Grantees 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 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 to attract top team members (EU and non-eu) and collaborators *) Host institution refers to the organisation with which the first grant agreement was signed J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 19

20 Creative Freedom of Grantees 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 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 to attract top team members (EU and non-eu) and collaborators ERC calls are open to researchers of any nationality, age or current place of work in the world (but at least 50% of work time in Europe) *) Host institution refers to the organisation with which the first grant agreement was signed J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 20

21 Grant Distribution to Countries of HI Over 4300 projects have been selected, one fifth corresponding to women PIs. *) Host institution refers to the organisation with which the first grant agreement was signed J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 21

22 Country Higher-Education Institution No StG/CoG AdG Total LS PE SH UK University of Oxford UK University of Cambridge UK University College London CH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) CH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) IL Weizmann Institute IL Hebrew University of Jerusalem UK Imperial College UK University of Edinburgh BE University of Leuven UK University of Bristol DE University of Munich (LMU) NL University of Amsterdam NL Radboud University Nijmegen NL Leiden University NL Utrecht University IL Technion - Israel Institute of Technology CH University of Zurich UK King's College London IL Tel Aviv University CH University of Geneva FI University of Helsinki SE Karolinska Institute Country Research Organisation No StG AdG Total LS PE SH FR National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) DE Max Planck Society FR National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) FR French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission Top European Institutions hosting at least 30 ERC Grantees by funding Schemes StG/CoG AdG First legal signatories of the grant agreement Data as of ES Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) J.-P. BOURGUIGNON FR National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automatic Control (INRIA)

23 Grant Distribution to Countries of HI *) Host institution refers to the organisation with which the first grant agreement was signed J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 23

24 Grant Distribution vs R&D Spending correlation 0.86 J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 24

25 Success Rates per Country of HI J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 25

26 Mobility of Researchers J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 26

27 ERC Grantees Age Distribution J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 27

28 Developing a New Generation J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 28

29 Frontier Research and Innovation Initiated to help ERC grant-holder to bridge the gap between their research and the earliest stage of a marketable innovation J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 29

30 Frontier Research and Innovation Initiated to help ERC grant-holder to bridge the gap between their research and the earliest stage of a marketable innovation Supporting grant-holders during the pre-demonstration J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 30

31 Frontier Research and Innovation Initiated to help ERC grant-holder to bridge the gap between their research and the earliest stage of a marketable innovation Supporting grant-holders during the pre-demonstration Up to Euro per grant J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 31

32 Frontier Research and Innovation Initiated to help ERC grant-holder to bridge the gap between their research and the earliest stage of a marketable innovation Supporting grant-holders during the pre-demonstration Up to Euro per grant One step evaluation Submitted Evaluated* Funded * withdrawn and ineligible proposals not taken into account J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 32

33 Frontier Research and Innovation Initiated to help ERC grant-holder to bridge the gap between their research and the earliest stage of a marketable innovation Supporting grant-holders during the pre-demonstration Up to Euro per grant One step evaluation Submitted Evaluated* Funded * withdrawn and ineligible proposals not taken into account Calls in 2011, 2012 and 2013 (each with 2 deadlines) J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 33

34 Frontier Research and Innovation Initiated to help ERC grant-holder to bridge the gap between their research and the earliest stage of a marketable innovation Supporting grant-holders during the pre-demonstration Up to Euro per grant One step evaluation Submitted Evaluated* Funded * withdrawn and ineligible proposals not taken into account Calls in 2011, 2012 and 2013 (each with 2 deadlines) Fourth call in 2014 (deadlines 1 April and 1 October) J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 34

35 The ERC The Next Seven Years J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 35

36 ERC Scientific Council Prof. Klaus BOCK (Chemistry) Prof. Jean-Pierre BOURGUIGNON (Mathematics), ERC President Prof. Nicholas CANNY (History) Prof. Sierd A.P.L. CLOETINGH (Earth Sciences) Prof. Tomasz DIETL (Physics) Prof. Daniel DOLEV (Computer Sciences) Prof. Athene DONALD (Biological Physics) Dr. Barbara ENSOLI (Medicine) Prof. Pavel EXNER (Applied Mathematics & Mathematical Physics), ERC Vice-President Prof. Reinhard GENZEL(Astrophysics) Prof. Carl-Henrik HELDIN (Molecular Cell Biology), ERC Vice-President Prof. Timothy HUNT (Biology) Prof. Matthias KLEINER (Engineering) Prof. Eva KONDOROSI (Biology) Prof. Mart SAARMA (Biology) Prof. Nuria SEBASTIAN GALLES (Psychology), ERC Vice-President Prof. Nils Christian STENSETH (Ecology & Evolution) Prof. Martin STOKHOF (Philosophy) Prof. Anna TRAMONTANO (Biochemistry) Prof. Isabelle VERNOS (Molecular and Cell Biology) Prof. Reinhilde VEUGELERS (Economics) Prof. Michel WIEVIORKA (Sociology) J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 36

37 ERC Panel Evaluation Structure 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 Social Sciences and Humanities SH1 Individuals, institutions & markets SH2 The social world, diversity and common ground SH3 Environment,space and population SH4 The Human Mind and its complexity SH5 Cultures & cultural production SH6 The study of the human past Physical Sciences & Engineering PE1 Mathematics 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 J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 37

38 ERC in Horizon 2020 Essential features maintained: Same schemes, same principles, same selection procedures/criteria Independent Scientific Council with full authority over funding strategy Executive Agency with autonomous operation J.-P. BOURGUIGNON

39 ERC in Horizon 2020 Essential features maintained: Same schemes, same principles, same selection procedures/criteria Independent Scientific Council with full authority over funding strategy Executive Agency with autonomous operation Increased overall budget (13.1 Bn in current prices for ): Still excellent opportunities for top research talents J.-P. BOURGUIGNON

40 ERC in Horizon 2020 Essential features maintained: Same schemes, same principles, same selection procedures/criteria Independent Scientific Council with full authority over funding strategy Executive Agency with autonomous operation Increased overall budget (13.1 MN in current prices for ): Still excellent opportunities for top research talents Strengthening the Scientific Governance of the ERC: Strengthening the links between the Scientific Council and the Executive Agency Merging positions of President of ERC and Secretary General (Almost) full-time President based in Brussels 3 Vice-Chairs elected from amongst the Scientific Council members J.-P. BOURGUIGNON

41 ERC in Horizon 2020 "The ERC must have a funding capacity that exceeds at least 5% of existing (sub)national funding, at a minimum of 4bn per year". LERU input to the independent review of the ERC (2009) J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 41

42 Work Programme 2015 Publication date of first calls planned for Autumn J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 42

43 Work Programme 2015 Publication date of first calls planned for Autumn Three ERC frontier research grants will be available under Work Programme 2015: Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants. J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 43

44 Work Programme 2015 Publication date of first calls planned for Autumn Three ERC frontier research grants will be available under Work Programme 2015: Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants. The Scientific Council will analyse the pilot phase of the ERC Synergy Grant (calls made under Work Programmes 2012 and 2013) before deciding on future calls. No Synergy call under Work Programme J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 44

45 Work Programme 2015 Publication date of first calls planned for Autumn Three ERC frontier research grants will be available under Work Programme 2015: Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants. The Scientific Council will analyse the pilot phase of the ERC Synergy Grant (calls were made under Work Programmes 2012 and 2013) before deciding on future calls. No Synergy call under Work Programme Restrictions on applications will apply to the 2015 calls based on the outcome of the evaluation of the 2014 calls (same as in Work Programme 2014). J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 45

46 Work Programme 2015 Publication date of first calls planned for Autumn Three ERC frontier research grants will be available under Work Programme 2015: Starting; Consolidator; and Advanced Grants. The Scientific Council will analyse the pilot phase of the ERC Synergy Grant (calls were made under Work Programmes 2012 and 2013) before deciding on future calls. No Synergy call under Work Programme Restrictions on applications will apply to the 2015 calls based on the outcome of the evaluation of the 2014 calls (same in Work Programme 2014). ERC Principal Investigators will continue to be able to apply for Proof of Concept Grants (now with three deadlines). J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 46

47 Work Programme 2015 Publication date of first calls planned for Autumn Three ERC frontier research grants will be available under Work Programme 2015: Starting; Consolidator; and Advanced Grants. The Scientific Council will analyse the pilot phase of the ERC Synergy Grant (calls were made under Work Programmes 2012 and 2013) before deciding on future calls. No Synergy call under Work Programme Restrictions on applications will apply to the 2015 calls based on the outcome of the evaluation of the 2014 calls (same in Work Programme 2014). ERC Principal Investigators will continue to be able to apply for Proof of Concept Grants (now with three deadlines). Overhead rate: 25% J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 47

48 Work Programme 2015 ERC calls Budget Call Publication Submission Deadline(s) Starting Grants ERC-2015-StG Consolidator Grants ERC-2015-CoG 410 M October M November 2014 February 2015 March 2015 Advanced Grants ERC-2015-AdG Proof of Concept ERC-2015-PoC 630 M February M January 2015 June 2015 DL1: February 2015 DL2: May 2015 DL3: October 2015 J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 48

49 Some Issues Raised for the Future of ERC J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 49

50 Some Technical Issues Raised How significant are the limitations of peer review and what can be done to mitigate these? J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 50

51 Some Technical Issues Raised How significant are the limitations of peer review and what can be done to mitigate these? How can the highest quality of experts be motivated to engage? J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 51

52 Some Technical Issues Raised How significant are the limitations of peer review and what can be done to mitigate these? How can the highest quality of experts be motivated to engage? How to tackle the gender issue in an effective way? J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 52

53 Some more Political Issues Raised Does Europe have too much or too little competition for research funding? J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 53

54 Some more Political Issues Raised Does Europe have too much or too little competition for research funding? Do European universities and research entities provide the appropriate career paths for the next generation of researchers? J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 54

55 Some more Political Issues Raised Does Europe have too much or too little competition for research funding? Do European universities and research entities provide the appropriate career paths for the next generation of researchers? Does Europe have too much or too little concentration of research funding on elite institutions? J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 55

56 Some more Political Issues Raised Does Europe have too much or too little competition for research funding? Do European universities and research entities provide the appropriate career paths for the next generation of researchers? Does Europe have too much or too little concentration of research funding on elite institutions? How can ERC contribute to enhance capacity building and quality research in countries not yet so successful in the ERC calls? J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 56

57 Some more Political Issues Raised Does Europe have too much or too little competition for research funding? Do European universities and research entities provide the appropriate career paths for the next generation of researchers? Does Europe have too much or too little concentration of research funding on elite institutions? How can ERC contribute to enhance capacity building and quality research in countries not yet so successful in the ERC calls? Can we move beyond a "techno-nationalist" discourse in research policy? J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 57

58 The European Research Council More information on erc.europa.eu National Contact Point in your country erc.europa.eu/national-contact-points Follow us on EuropeanResearchCouncil ERC_Research J.-P. BOURGUIGNON 58

Prof Donald Dingwell ERC Secretary General. Visit to Australia and New Zealand October FP7 IDEAS Programme The European Research Council

FP7 IDEAS Programme The European Research Council Prof Donald Dingwell ERC Secretary General Visit to Australia and New Zealand October 2013 ERC EA Unit A1 Support to the Scientific Council The European