ERC Magazine - Autumn 2023 – Grant applications: evaluation and assessment

[Henningsen Susanne]

  30 November 2023

	
ERC EC

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      Autumn 2023

In this double edition of the ERC Magazine Digest, we bring you facts 
and views on the ERC’s evaluation panels. Read about experiences of a 
successful re-applicant, a remote reviewer and a panel chair. And for 
those that missed the last edition of the Magazine, we also include 
articles on the changes to the ERC evaluation process in 2024 and the 
reasoning behind them.


      Evaluation panels and panellists


        The ERC’s dedication to rigorous evaluation

Eystein Jansen, ERC Scientific Council Vice-President, explains how 
evaluators are chosen and how they work.

Quote 	
	The ERC Scientific Council remains unwavering in ensuring high quality 
throughout the process

more 
<https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/erc/redirection/item/809263/en/2870?no-intermediate-page=1> 



        It’s always too soon to quit

Adina Akbik was awarded a Starting Grant on her second attempt. She 
explains her methodology and the importance of perseverance and feedback.

Quote 	
	If you fail the first time, it's not the end of the story

more 
<https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/erc/redirection/item/809264/en/2870?no-intermediate-page=1> 



        View from both sides of the fence

Kresten Lindorff-Larsen was an ERC evaluation panel member, a remote 
reviewer, and applied for a grant several times, once successfully.

Quote 	
	It's not about where you are, or who you are, it's your idea and how 
you will carry it out

more 
<https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/erc/redirection/item/809266/en/2870?no-intermediate-page=1> 



        Being an evaluation panel chair – a worthwhile experience?

Margaret Hunt, who has worked in different roles on ERC panels describes 
their value, difficulties and processes.

Quote 	
	Very smart people routinely disagree about what merit or quality is

more 
<https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/erc/redirection/item/809267/en/2870?no-intermediate-page=1> 



        Peer review - not perfect but still the best system that we have

Ted Hewitt, President of Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities 
Research Council explains the challenges of peer review and ways to make 
the process better.

Quote 	
	We consider the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion screen to be critical for 
excellence

more 
<https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/erc/redirection/item/809268/en/2870?no-intermediate-page=1> 



        Facts and figures on evaluators of ERC grant proposals

We break down how many people have acted as ERC panel members and remote 
reviewers over the years, and how many proposals they must deal with.

Quote 	
	In 2023 grant competitions, the ERC got 6,850 proposals, while 46,351 
reviews were issued about them

more 
<https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/erc/redirection/item/809270/en/2870?no-intermediate-page=1> 



      Changes in the evaluation of proposals for funding


        ERC President explains the logic behind evaluation changes

Maria Leptin details why the ERC’s Scientific Council changed the 
evaluation forms and processes that are used to decide which research 
proposals to fund.

Quote 	
	We share the concerns that current practices often use inappropriate 
metrics and narrow methods

more 
<https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/erc/redirection/item/807583/en/2870?no-intermediate-page=1> 



        The journey to responsible, experimental research funding

James Wilsdon, director of the Research on Research Institute, describes 
new developments that are responding to tensions in the current systems 
of peer review, allocation and evaluation.

Quote 	
	By turning the tools of research back on itself, we can create fairer, 
more inclusive and robust funding and assessment systems

more 
<https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/erc/redirection/item/807660/en/2870?no-intermediate-page=1> 



        Narrative CVs – a good idea?

ERC grantee Anja Leist shares with us what she learned from calls where 
this type of CV was required.

Quote 	
	The narrative CV is good for explaining things that wouldn't be visible 
in traditional forms of metrics measurement

more 
<https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/erc/redirection/item/807661/en/2870?no-intermediate-page=1> 


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