ERC pipeline is informal long-term individual support provided to researchers who in the future (e.g. in 1-3 or even more years) may submit competitive application for an ERC grant that would be carried out at the Faculty of Science.

See also: What is ERC – Faculty‘s ERC contact points – ERC grant preparation 

ERC pipeline aims to ensure that (potential) ERC applicants:

  • Are aware of the “spirit” of ERC funding well ahead of time.
  • Systematically work on their CV and Track record according to ERC requirements (both in their actual achievements and also in adopting the way, how these parts of the ERC application should be written).
  • Choose the best time to apply for an ERC grant.

ERC pipeline is designed as informal non-binding support for researchers. Members of ERC pipeline are not obliged to apply for an ERC grant and participation in ERC pipeline is not a requirement to apply for an ERC grant to be carried out at the Faculty of Science.

It is highly desirable that heads of departments at the Faculty of Science take the initiative to identify people who should enter the ERC pipeline and put them in touch with the Project Management Department (see the ERC contact points at Faculty of Science) or inform the Vice-dean for Development and Foreign Relations.

Who should enter the ERC pipeline?

Researchers, who have – for their career stage – achieved exceptional research results (on international scale) and proven their ability to conduct exciting independent research. These can be e.g.:

  • Advanced doctoral students about to defend their PhD thesis, who at this stage are usually planning to gather experience abroad (potential future applicants for ERC Starting Grant.)
  • Researchers currently abroad e.g. on a postdoc, who nevertheless are interested in coming/returning to Czechia (and applying for ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant to be carried out at the Faculty of Science).
  • Researchers who are setting up their independent research team, usually after gathering experience abroad.
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (MSCA-IF) holders.
  • PRIMUS grantees.
  • Holders of other grants that require or strongly encourage the PIs to apply for an ERC grant – e. g. GA ČR EXPRO, Experientia start-up grant and others.
  • Senior scientists who have significantly influenced their research field, especially if they have (recently) come up with surprising research results that might open new possibilities for their research field (potential applicants for ERC Advanced grants).

This list is NOT exhaustive. See also “Grant profile” for ERC Starting, Consolidator and Advanced in the current ERC Work Programme.

When should people enter the ERC pipeline?

Ideally 2-3 years before actually submitting their ERC application, or at least 1 year before the submission. See also the Recommended timetable of ERC grant preparation.

How does ERC pipeline work? What support it provides?

Entering the pipeline
Individual consultation (in person or e.g. by Skype) between the researcher and an ERC contact person from the Project Management Department takes place when the researcher enters the pipeline. The career stage of the researcher as well as his/her career plans and plans for potentially applying for an ERC grant are discussed. The researcher also provides basic information about him/herself needed to determine their “eligibility window” for applying for ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant (date of PhD award and period by which the time elapsed since the PhD award can be reduced).

ERC updates
Pipeline members are sent information by e-mail about ERC calls, information events or e.g. even articles and other pieces of information that might be useful for potential ERC applicants.

Individual communication
Based on their career stage, ERC eligibility window and previously expressed intentions about applying for an ERC grant, the pipeline members are individually asked about the progress in their application plans or reminded e.g. of events that they shouldn’t miss.

"Homework"

  • When researchers enter the pipeline (or, in case of very young researchers, ca. 2 years before submitting an ERC application might become relevant), they are asked to write their CV and Track record according to the ERC rules.
  • Then they receive feedback regarding the way, how these parts of application should be written; and – utilising help of researchers with experience as ERC evaluators – regarding potential “weak points” in their CV.
  • The exercise might be repeated again in due time to help in choosing the best moment to exit the pipeline and launch preparation of the ERC application.
  • This “homework” not only helps to choose the time to apply, but also saves time during the application phase, as the applicant needs only to slightly update his/her CV and Track record and can fully concentrate on the (more important) research part of the proposal.

Exiting the pipeline

  • Researchers “exit” the pipeline, when they decide to start working on the ERC application – it’s advisable to make this decision ca. 12-9 months before the relevant deadline, see the Recommended timetable of ERC grant preparation.
  • If the application isn’t successful, researchers are encouraged to re-enter the pipeline and use the feedback from ERC evaluation to plan and prepare their next application.
  • Researchers can also leave the pipeline any time, when they decide that they no longer plan to apply for ERC funding or that they don’t want to use this support any more.
  • (Researchers can be also "removed" from the pipeline when they don’t respond to the individual communication attempts for a long time – e.g. for 2 years.)

 

See also: What is ERC – Faculty‘s ERC contact points – ERC grant preparation 

 

Last update: 7 October 2020.