ERC: Last Calls under Horizon 2020
The ERC supports excellent researchers and scholars in carrying-out frontier research projects. To date more than 40 researchers from the University of Basel have received one of these prestigious Grants. The University of Basel has an excellent position among Swiss Universities when looking at the number of ERC grants per professorship (see Figure 1). Figure 2 shows the number of ERC Gants in Switzerland sorted by evaluation panels.
The deadlines published in the 2020 work programme are:
- 16th October 2019: Starting Grants: for researchers 2-7 years post-PhD
- 5th November 2019: Synergy Grants: for 2-4 outstanding PIs working together
- 4th February 2020: Consolidator Grants: for researchers 7-12 years post-PhD
- 26th August 2020: Advanced Grants: for experienced researchers (10 year track-record)
ERC-projects can address any area of research or scholarship and the subject is entirely chosen by the Principle Investigator(s). The ERC support ground-breaking innovative research projects which contribute to excellence in science and scholarship, their main aim is to support researchers in realising advancements in research.
Although led by an independent scientific council, the ERC is part for the EU programme Horizon 2020. The current (2020) ERC work programme is the last to be published under Horizon 2020, which comes to an end next year. Therefore the above mentioned deadlines, some of which are set in 2019 are the last ERC Calls under Horizon 2020.
The next EU framework programme – Horizon Europe – will begin in 2021. In June 2018, the European Commission presented its proposal for Horizon Europe, which clearly states continuity for the ERC. However a lot of preparation for Horizon Europe is still required at the EU level and the detailed planning, including the mechanism for participation of non-member states (like Switzerland), is still under discussion, see Horizon Europe article.
Therefore, we encourage you to apply to one of the above mentioned Calls. We are currently planning a training session for ERC Consolidator applicants by external experts. Please let us know if you would be interested in attending.
