Newsletter April 2021

Focus

Are you ready for the ERC?

Horizon Europe will fully take off in a few weeks but the first ERC calls are already out. Typical ERC, you could say, always at the forefront of the Framework Programmes. The next ERC call, the Advanced Grant, is expected to open on 20 May with a deadline on 31 August. What are your ERC plans?

2021 is a special year for the ERC: It was not possible for the first calls to open in 2020 and there are no Synergy Grant or Proof of Concept Grant calls in the 2021 Work Programme. These two calls are expected back in the 2022 Work Programme. The Proof of Concept will even have 2 calls with a total of 4 cut-off dates, giving PIs for whom 2021 would have been the last chance to apply the possibility to submit a proposal. These plans as well as tentative opening and closing dates for the other calls were recently communicated by the ERC. In terms of call timelines, 2022 will be the last transition year. With Work Programme 2023, calls are expected to be back to the usual schedule (i.e. Starting Grant closing around October, Consolidator Grant in February, Advanced Grant in summer, and Synergy Grant in November).

Make sure you consider the best time in your career for a proposal submission and schedule in sufficient time for proposal writing. For Starting and Consolidator Grant applicants, it is not necessarily towards the end of the eligibility window. Statistics show that the success rate does not increase substantially with additional years post PhD. To get started, talk with ERC grantees and your peers, and check out the "ERC classes" videos.

Dear readers, these are my last recommendations as a National Contact Point for ERC. After 14 years, I am leaving Euresearch and taking off for new horizons. It was a great pleasure for me to support so many ERC applicants in Switzerland. To work with talented researchers and to see world class research projects develop was truly inspiring. Thank you for your trust and good luck with your ERC plans!

Katja Wirth, National Contact Point for ERC / Member of the Euresearch Management Board

Alexandra Rosakis, Illustration

Fighting Cancer with R&I

Fighting cancer and improving the lives of Europeans suffering from this disease is one of the priorities of the European Health Union. The EU’s Beating Cancer Plan covers the entire disease pathway and focuses strongly on research and innovation. Horizon Europe will play a crucial role by boosting R&I funding and enabling better prevention, optimised care and improved quality of life for cancer survivors.

New Website: Research.swiss

The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation and Swissnex have just launched Research.swiss, a website that provides an overview of Swiss research funding institutions and their instruments for bilateral cooperation in research and innovation.

European Innovation Council has taken off!

The European Innovation Council (EIC) was officially launched on 18 March 2021. The day after, the EIC Applicant’s day took place. All video recordings and slides are available online, as is the 2021 EIC Work Programme – have a look!

HERA Incubator: Preparing for Coronavirus Variants

The European Commission has launched an initiative to keep coronavirus variants at bay and to prepare for a permanent authority in the fight against pandemics. The HERA Incubator brings together science, industry and public authorities.

EIT Culture & Creativity

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is planning a new Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) to tackle challenges in the cultural and creative sectors and industries. The call for proposals is expected at the end of 2021. The EIT Work Programme is online. Get ready to join Europe’s largest innovation network!
Call webinar: 21.04.2021

MSCA: Call Opening

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions will open two calls on 18 May 2021: The Fellowships call for supporting postdoctoral research and careers and the Doctoral Networks call for the training of innovative doctoral candidates.
Postdoctoral Fellowships deadline: 15.09.2021
Doctoral Networks deadline: 16.11.2021

M-ERA.NET Call 2021

Switzerland is participating in the 2021 M-ERA.NET Call. The aim is to fund ambitious transnational R&D projects addressing materials research and innovation, including materials for low-carbon energy technologies, future batteries and related production technologies. The call will take place in two stages.
Pre-proposal deadline: 15.06.2021

AI4EU - Call for Solutions

The AI4EU project is looking for AI-based solutions aiming at helping companies and the public sector to run their business and activities more efficiently or to deliver innovative services. Applicants can receive up to €70 000 and should be technology providers with an artificial intelligence background
Deadline: 29.04.2021

Public Health Emergency Action on COVID-19 Variants

The Commission mobilises €123 million from Horizon Europe for urgent research into coronavirus variants. 4 specific topics in the Health and Research Infrastructures programmes, as part of the EU response to the COVID-19 pandemic, were published. The calls will open for submissions on 13 April 2021.
Deadline: 06.05.2021

R&I in Health and Biotech for Industry and Academia

Euresearch will present selected Horizon Europe funding opportunities in areas such as tackling diseases, environment and health, staying healthy, biomarkers, diagnostics and medtech.
Date: 06.05.2021 (online)

Putting Science into Standards: Organ-on-Chip

The Putting Science into Standards initiative aims at identifying emerging science and technology benefitting from standardisation. The 2021 event is dedicated to organ-on-chip and micro physiological systems.
Date: 28.-29.04.2021 (online)

Industrieforum 2025

This event gives a unique insight into the digitalisation trend currently transforming Swiss industry. Besides showcasing very concrete projects, Industrieforum 2025 offers a platform for online networking. Presentations will be in German.
Date: 08.&10.06.2021 (online)

MSCA Doctoral Networks

This event will inform you about funding opportunities for doctoral training programmes, including joint doctorate and industrial doctorate networks in the upcoming Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks call.
Date: 18.05.2021 (online)

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

Come and join this event: it offers basic information on the European and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships in Horizon Europe - from eligibility criteria and proposal structure to application submission.
Date: 06.05.2021 (online)

What is new in the MSCA?

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under Horizon Europe provide research, training and mobility opportunities for researchers and organisations. In this event, we offer information on what is new in the MSCA in 2021.
Date: 09.04.2021 (online)

Clean Aviation for a Competitive Green Recovery in Europe

Join this event to learn more about Clean Sky’s innovative results, hear from sector leaders working towards a competitive green recovery for aviation, and be part of the discussion on the proposed future European Partnership for Clean Aviation.
Date: 22.04.2021 (online)

Newsletter April 2021

Are you ready for the ERC?