European Research Council
Dr Laura Robinson, Principal Investigator on the project 'Reconstructing abrupt Changes in Chemistry and Circulation of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean: Implications for global Climate and deep-water Habitats' (CACH).
"The ERC grant has been fundamental in enabling this whole research program. Among other things, I have used the money to hire the highly specialised equipment aboard the James Cook and to recruit a great team. One very important aspect of our work is creating inspirational opportunities for the next wave of upcoming scientists in Europe and this project has allowed me to bring together a varied and talented group of researchers. We are all very excited to be part of this unique expedition."
ERC Workshop - Thursday 10th May 2018
The Research Development International Team hosted an ERC workshop on 10th May 2018. A link to the agenda can be found below. The workshop provided an opportunity for researchers to find out more about the different ERC funding schemes available and to hear about first-hand experience from ERC grantees and a current panel member.
We strongly encourage potential external applicants to contact us in the first instance if you are looking to apply for an ERC grant with Bristol as your host organisation.
ERC Workshop Agenda final (Office document, 126kB)
Please contact rd-international@bristol.ac.uk if you would like further information.
About ERC Grant Schemes
The European Research Council (ERC) is a Europe-wide Research Council (established December 2006) intended to stimulate groundbreaking investigator-initiated 'frontier' research carried out by individual teams across all fields. Frontier Research is described as "the pursuit of questions at or beyond the frontiers of knowledge, without regard for established disciplinary boundaries". UKRO have produced a fact sheet on the ERC which can be found here.
Between 2014 - 2020, under Horizon 2020, the ERC will have a significantly increased budget of over €13 billion.
Starting Grants
ERC ‘Starting Grants’ are intended to enable exceptional researchers, between 2 and 7 years from PhD completion, to become fully independent research leaders. They are particularly intended to enable the researcher to create or strengthen their own independent research team or, depending on the field, establish their own research programme.
Consolidator Grants
ERC 'Consolidator Grants' are intended to enable exceptional researchers, between 7 and 12 years from PhD completion, to become fully independent research leaders. They are particularly intended to enable the researcher to create or strengthen their own independent research team.
Advanced Grants
ERC ‘Advanced Grants’ support individual professorial level researchers established as exceptional leaders in their field, in undertaking ambitious, groundbreaking, high-impact research projects.
Proof of Concept Funding
ERC 'Proof of Concept' funding is open to all Principal Investigators benefiting from an ERC Advanced or Starting Grant that is either ongoing, or where the project has ended less than 12 months before the publication date of an Proof of Concept call. The Principal Investigator must be able to demonstrate the link between the idea and the related ERC-funded project. The funding per grant can be up to €150,000 and has a duration of 12 months. The calls for proposals is published once a year with two deadlines. The first Proof of Concept call was launched in March 2011.
Due to the highly competitive nature of ERC grants, ERC calls for proposals other than Proof of Concept will be managed through the University's major bids process.
Important information
It is University Policy that all applications to Horizon 2020 are supported by the RD International team and approved through fEC ahead of submission. Please ensure that you contact the RD International team as early as possible to inform them of any applications to the EC. If Institutional approval to submit is not sought ahead of the deadline then this could result in the University refusing to host the project if awarded.
If awarded the University must sign a Declaration of Honour (DoH) as part of the EC requirements for commencing an H2020 grant. Within the DoH there are 7 declarations that the University must certify, 6 of which we are fully satisfied are true for every grant. However, for one of the declarations (#6) we must carry out further investigations before we are able to sign the document. Declaration #6 states the following, ‘I will inform the Agency of any other grant applications or grants from the EU or Euratom budget related to this action’.
To fulfil the request to certify this particular declaration if awarded you will be asked to complete a table with any related grants or applications that you feel might be relevant and sign an agreement to confirm this declaration is adhered to before the University will sign the DoH. The University has requested clarity on the term ‘Related’ but is yet to receive a satisfactory response so please assume any current or past EU grants or applications are related if there is any overlap whatsoever and list them as requested.
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