How to Write a Convincing ERC Proposal

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1 ERC Applicants Training How to Write a Convincing ERC Proposal Katja Wirth National Contact Point ERC Euresearch Head Office katja.wirth@euresearch.ch phone

2 Presentation outline 1.Getting Started 2.How Evaluators Read Proposals 3.Your Proposal B1: The Principal Investigator (PI) The Scientific Proposal and Synopsis 4. Cosmetics and Finish

3 Structure of Horizon 2020

4 1. Getting Started (1) Start early -> the deadline is very strict! Have your project idea ready, even if the call deadline is still far away Study all important ERC documents Work Programme Information for applicants (former Guide for Applicants) ERC Rules for Submission and Participation

5 1. Getting Started (2) Have a look at ERC funded projects Study the evaluation criteria on this document (not available yet). Print it out! Use the templates Prepare the supporting documents early (annexes: PhD degree + docu on extension time if applicable; HI letter; annexes on ethical and security issues, if applicable) If you have questions, contact your Regional Office or ERC NCP early.

6 1. Getting Started (3) Once you have your project idea thought-out, invest at least 2 weeks for writing As an evaluator said: Retreat in a chalet for two weeks. Avoid the daily business, the daily stress.

7 1. Getting Started (4) Imagine you re applying for your dream job. The HR personnel gets hundreds of applications and needs to make a valuable selection of candidates within a very short time frame. It is the same with ERC proposals! Your proposal must make a difference!

8 2. How Evaluators Read Proposals They first read title and abstract. The abstract already decides if they are interested in reading more. The second thing they read is the publication list. They often flip through the pages. This means: Your proposal needs to be well structured. Important parts of your proposal should be eye-catching. They have many proposals to read. They have never enough time. Make their work easier in presenting them a nice proposal! The following criteria are not used: nationality, gender, age, HI.

9 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal PART A online forms To complete in PPSS 1. General info 2. Administrative Data 3. Budget 4. Ethics 5. Call specific questions Annexes submitted as pdf Letter of HI PhD certificate (incl. supporting documents if applicable) Annexes on ethical issues (if appl.) PART B1 - submitted as pdf a) Extended synopsis 5 p. b) CV 2 p. c) Track record 2 p. PART B2 submitted as pdf Scientific proposal 15 p. a) State of the Art + objectives b) Methodology c) Resources 9

10 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal PART A online forms To complete in PPSS 1. General info 2. Administrative Data 3. Budget 4. Ethics 5. Call specific questions Annexes submitted as pdf Letter of HI PhD certificate (incl. supporting documents if applicable) Annexes on ethical issues (if appl.) PART B1 - submitted as pdf a) Extended synopsis 5 p. b) CV 2 p. c) Track record 2 p. PART B2 submitted as pdf Scientific proposal 15 p. a) State of the Art + objectives b) Methodology c) Resources 10

11 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal Proposal part A Includes free keywords important as they are used to choose external reviewers in evaluation step 2 Includes panel (primary and secondary if applicable) choice Includes table on ethical issues. If you have ethical issues -> ethical self assessment is needed (to submit as a an annex in pdf format) You can exclude reviewers Budget New! In A Form only overall budget More infos afterwards and available at your Regional Office 11

12 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal PART A online forms To complete in PPSS 1. General info 2. Administrative Data 3. Budget 4. Ethics 5. Call specific questions Annexes submitted as pdf Letter of HI PhD certificate (incl. supporting documents if applicable) Annexes on ethical issues (if appl.) PART B1 - submitted as pdf a) Extended synopsis 5 p. b) CV 2 p. c) Track record 2 p. PART B2 submitted as pdf Scientific proposal 15 p. a) State of the Art + objectives b) Methodology c) Resources 12

13 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal PART A online forms To complete in PPSS 1. General info 2. Administrative Data 3. Budget 4. Ethics 5. Call specific questions Annexes submitted as pdf Letter of HI PhD certificate (incl. supporting documents if applicable) Annexes on ethical issues (if appl.) PART B1 - submitted as pdf a) Extended synopsis 5 p. b) CV 2 p. c) Track record 2 p. PART B2 submitted as pdf Scientific proposal 15 p. a) State of the Art + objectives b) Methodology c) Resources 13

14 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal B1: The Principal Investigator (1) The evaluators invest the money into persons who have a proved potential. The ERC doesn t want to take a risk. Track record, special creativity... Proved ability to manage a team and a big budget 14

15 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal B1: The Principal Investigator (2) After the (short) lecture of part B1, the evaluators should know that you are excellent and the right person to get the grant Ask yourself where your qualities and special achievements are. Independence of the PI is important Mention a detailed Funding ID (table doesn t count towards the maximum number of pages) 15

16 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal B1: The Principal Investigator (3) Track Record: Publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and/or monographs, highlighting 5/10 representative publications and those without PhD supervisor. Add the number of citations. Granted patents Invited presentations to peer-reviewed conferences / advanced schools Prizes, awards It s up to you how many publications you list. You may comment on your publications (eg if cross disc.) 16

17 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal PART A online forms To complete in PPSS 1. General info 2. Administrative Data 3. Budget 4. Ethics 5. Call specific questions Annexes submitted as pdf Letter of HI PhD certificate (incl. supporting documents if applicable) Annexes on ethical issues (if appl.) PART B1 - submitted as pdf a) Extended synopsis 5 p. b) CV 2 p. c) Track record 2 p. PART B2 submitted as pdf Scientific proposal 15 p. a) State of the Art + objectives b) Methodology c) Resources 17

18 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal The Scientific Proposal / Synopsis (1) The ERC funds basic research projects that are novel, creative, go significantly beyond the state of the art, make substantial advances in the frontiers of knowledge, use new methods and techniques, are interdisciplinary, and high-riskhigh-gain projects. This means: Focus on these aspects. Display these aspects clearly, in a user-friendly manner. Show where and why your project is excellent. The proposal and the synopsis must be short, concise, crystal clear. No noise. Read in detail the requirements stated in the Information for applicants, p.25ff The ERC funds projects that cannot be funded otherwise. Describe why you need the ERC grant! And why now. Your project must make a difference. 18

19 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal The Scientific Proposal / Synopsis (2) Write first the proposal, then the synopsis, then the abstract. Abstract and title are very important. They decide if the evaluators are interested in reading the whole story. This means: Choose a short and clear title. Choose a short and handy acronym ( Write a concise and crystal clear abstract. What is your idea, your objective, your method? Synopsis and Proposal: Show that you know the state of the art. Come quickly to the point: What are your objectives? List your overall goal and several sub-objectives. Have the evaluation criteria in front of you; even copy the wording. 19

20 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal The Scientific Proposal / Synopsis (3) Risky projects are welcome. It must be clear, however, that you are aware of the risks and know how to tackle them. You may present a plan B. Be ambitious, but not naïve. The feasibility must clearly be shown. Find a balance between being original and realistic. You may include a risk analysis (e.g. in table form). 20

21 Your Proposal 3. Your Proposal The Scientific Proposal / Synopsis (4) Don t forget: The proposal has to be understandable for experts as well as for generalists (applies also for abbreviations and non- English terms) Graphs and tables are highly recommended Include a list of references Has to be within the maximal number of pages Decide which references are important Include timetable, milestones etc. (maybe in form of a table or graph) State how Euresearch much Katja time Wirth you February devote 2014 ERC to Training the project (at least 21

22 Cosmetics and Finish 4. Cosmetics and Finish (1) The evaluators have to evaluate a lot of proposals and have very little time. They should get the information of your proposal very quickly. This means: The display of your proposal should be very nice and clear. The essence should be found at once. 22

23 Cosmetics and Finish 4. Cosmetics and Finish (2) One evaluator pointed it like this: An applicant who does not take his time to write a clear and nice proposal delegates the work to the evaluator, because the evaluator then has to struggle through the proposal to find the essence. The more the applicant can save the time of the evaluator, the better is his chance. Another evaluator s opinion: In the top 10% everybody deserves the grant. If a person is in the top 10%, a nice proposal can make the difference. 23

24 Cosmetics and Finish 4. Cosmetics and Finish (3) What does this mean for your proposal? In terms of formalities: Subdivision of your text: sub headers, paragraphs... Bulleting, numbering... Hierarchy of titles should be clear Include graphs, tables In terms of content: Clear structure, logical flow, red thread. Your idea, goal, method should be visible at once. 24

25 Cosmetics and Finish 4. Cosmetics and Finish (4) The finish of your proposal: Proof-read your proposal with the evaluation criteria in front of you. Imagine you are an evaluator, evaluating point per point your proposal (stage 1 and 2). Give yourself marks. Does your proposal answer the following questions: What, why, how, why now, why you? Check the format (eligibility!) Do not go beyond the maximum number of pages. No repetition, no double information File names should contain proposal short name, such as PartB1_shortname.pdf Figures have to be understandable in black-and-white Have your English checked by a native English speaker. Some evaluators care about the English. 25

26 Katja Wirth, National Contact Point ERC Euresearch Head Office EU GrantsAccess Euresearch Regional Offices

European Research Council. Alex Berry, European Advisor 15 December 2015, Royal Holloway

European Research Council. Alex Berry, European Advisor 15 December 2015, Royal Holloway European Research Council Alex Berry, European Advisor alexandra.berry@bbsrc.ac.uk 15 December 2015, Royal Holloway UK Research Office UKRO s mission is to maximise UK engagement in EU-funded research,