Abstract_Van de Goor

European Research Council:

Supporting the Present and next Generation of Research Leaders in Europe

Dr. Gianpietro VAN DE GOOR

European Commission, Deputy Head of Unit RTD.S.1, ERC Information & Communication

The European Research Council (ERC) implements the Specific Programme "Ideas" of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7, 2007-2013). It became a reality in February 2007 when it was legally established by the European Commission. The ERC has been allocated EUR 7.5 billion under FP7 to develop and implement a substantial suite of funding activities during its seven-year tenure. As well as a flagship component of FP7, the ERC is also the first European funding body for frontier research.

The ERC's funding strategy and methodologies (including the peer review system) are defined by an independent body of distinguished scientists known as the Scientific Council. Support top research leaders and nurture talented emerging researchers to achieve their potential, are its declared strategic goals. More specifically, the ERC pledges to support investigator-initiated research that is at the leading edge of science. This means providing individual researchers from across the globe with the resources, trust and freedom to perform pioneering, high-risk projects with breakthrough potential.

Since its inauguration in 2007, the ERC has launched two mainstay support schemes: the ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant (Starting Grant), and the ERC Advanced Investigator Grant (Advanced Grant). Both operate without the parameters of prescribed themes, and, provided work is conducted within the EU and its Associated Countries, there are no restrictions on the nationality and age of the principal investigator to be funded. The objective behind this novel approach is to encourage creativity and diversity in science, and to attract and retain the very best research talent and established research leaders to and in Europe. While the Starting Grant is targeted at emerging researchers in the early stages of their independent careers, the Advanced Grant allows established research leaders to apply for funding for pioneering, far-reaching research