european research council - eurosfaire...development of world class research infrastructures in...

The European Research Council

Veronica WILLIAMS

ERC Executive Agency

Grant Implementation Unit

H2020 – ERC specificities

April 2013

Disclaimer: this information is subject to ongoing discussions at the Commission. This presentation is not to be distributed beyond the Legal and Financial NCPs network

Established by the European Commission

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AGENDA

I. Horizon 2020 – Generalities & Timeline

II. ERC present specificities

III. ERC under H2020



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Horizon 2020, three pillar structure:

Excellence Science – ERC

Industrial leadership

Societal challenges

+ EIT

+ JRC

I. H2020 – Generalities & Timeline



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Why Excellence Science?

Solutions to societal problems such as jobs, growth and

competitiveness, wellbeing, cutting-edge technologies

To develop, attract and retain research talents in Europe

Development of world class research infrastructures in Europe

To promote an inequality free research and innovation environment

through developing a gender dimension in research




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How will Excellence Science be achieved?

European Research Council

support the most talented and creative individuals and their teams to carry out

frontier research of the highest quality by building on the present success of

the ERC

Future and Emerging Technologies

fund collaborative research to open up new and promising fields of research

and innovation

Marie Curie

provide researchers with excellent training and career development

opportunities

Research Infrastructures

ensure Europe has world-class research infrastructures (including e-

infrastructures) accessible to all researchers in Europe and beyond.




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ERC Mission Statement 2013:

"ERC is dedicated to selecting and funding the excellent ideas that

have not happened yet and the scientists that are dreaming about

them"

Researchers are at the core of the philosophy and actions of ERC

ERC commitments:

• Identifying high potential research excellence worldwide;

• Offering totally open approach to science funding for as long as this

one is excellent;

• Offering modern light and research-oriented financial and

management services;

• Providing funding with long term perspective;

II. ERC – Mission statement &

Commitments



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Science-led funding

Highest level of excellence

Peer review

World class competitiveness

Attractiveness of Europe

Flexible, science-friendly practices

II. ERC – Present specificities

PI central role

Principal

Investigator

central role



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Investigator-driven approach (all fields of science are eligible)

Excellence as the only criterion (emphasis on the quality of the idea)

Peer-review evaluation system (“Two-steps”)

Link between basic research, innovation and market accessibility

Support individual researchers (not consortia) - anywhere in the world, any

nationality and age

Three partners cooperation structure: PI – ERCEA – HI

Portability principle

Funding schemes:

Starting grant, Consolidator grant, Advanced grant

Proof of Concept, Synergy grant


POLITICAL



Starting Grants

starters

(2-7 years after PhD)

up to € 2.0 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

Synergy Grants 2 – 4 Principal Investigators

up to € 15.0 Mio for 6 years

Proof-of-Concept bridging gap between research - earliest

stage of marketable innovation up to €150,000 for ERC grant holders

Consolidator Grants

consolidators

(7-12 years after PhD)

up to € 2.75 Mio

for 5 years


Funding Schemes



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Financing 100% of direct eligible costs

20% flat rate for indirect costs

Effective management structure – payments and amendments processed

far below the contractual and economical time limits

Accountancy and management rules of the principal beneficiary prevail

Split between Financial & Scientific reporting strands

Financial Reports prepared by the (Principal) Beneficiary

Scientific Reports prepared by the Principal Investigator on behalf of

the (Principal) Beneficiary


IMPLEMENTATION



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Strengthening the Scientific Governance of the ERC

with full authority over funding strategy

Strengthening the links between the Scientific Council and the

Executive Agency.

Merging positions of President of ERC & Secretary General

Full-time President based in Brussels

Three Vice-Chairs elected from amongst the Scientific Council members

Strengthening the role of Scientists in the Steering Committee of the

ERCEA




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Executive Agency with autonomous operation

Continuous acceleration of procedures and processes

User-friendly IT platforms (e-signature, e-submission, e-

amendments)

Increased quality and efficiency of program implementation

Reduction of administrative burden for participants –

maintenance of reporting split between Financial & Scientific




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Harmonisation of interpretation and implementation rules

while maintaining ERC specificities

a) General alignment to H2020 Legal Framework

b) ERC specificities to be maintained and enforced (under

negotiation):

Portability, central role of PI, time commitment, termination specificities

(scientific reasons and PI unavailability), promote lighter recording

system, retroactivity of amendments

100% reimbursement of direct eligible costs

+ single flat rate for indirect costs




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Strengthening the links between the ERC and other parts

of H2020 which aim to reinforce European Science base

“Bringing ERC with Marie Curie, FET and Research Infrastructures

together in a single program will enable them to operate with greater

coherence and in a rationalized, simplified and more focused way”.




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"ERC goes global"

Campaigns to promote Europe excellence and attractiveness in

research (open to researchers worldwide)

Widening participation across Europe (EU-12 and neighboring

countries)

Opening to international cooperation with third countries

initiative for early-career National Science Foundation (NSF)

researchers to join ERC-funded teams in Europe



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