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European Research Council (ERC) Programme

The core activity of the European Research Council is to provide adequate funding opportunities to support excellent researchers (in this context referred as Principal Investigators - PIs) to conduct pioneering and high-risk research. 

ERC funding is also characterised by its bottom-up nature, i.e. the Principal Investigator can participate with freely chosen topics without the need to conform to predefined topics. 

Interdisciplinary and pioneering proposals that address new and emerging research areas with an unconventional and innovative approach are encouraged. 

No co-funding contributions are required under the ERC programme and selected proposals are funded at 100% of eligible costs.

The programme is divided into four main funding schemes:

  • Starting Grants: for researchers who have obtained their PhD for 2-7 years
  • Consolidator Grants: intended for researchers who have obtained their PhD for 7-12 years
  • Advanced Grants: for researchers with ten years of research experience
  • Synergy Grants: for groups of 2-4 principal investigators
European Research Council (ERC) website

The University provides candidates interested in submitting an ERC proposal with a dedicated support service that includes:

  • Checking consistency between the applicant's CV and the requirements of the ERC programme
  • Tutoring and mentoring of candidates by members of the University ERC Task Force
  • Advice on proposal writing
  • Support in the preparation of the project budget
  • Full support in the proposal submission phase

The support is provided by the UP European and International Research, in collaboration with the University ERC Task Force, created in 2017 to promote and support participation in the ERC programme by making available to candidates interested in choosing the University of Florence as Host Institution the expertise and skills of the University's lecturers, researchers and researchers who have won ERC projects or are otherwise experts in European projects.

Unifi ERC Task Force European Research Council (ERC) website

Professors or external researchers who intend to choose Unifi as Host Institution can be assisted by the European and International Research Project Unit in the preparation of the proposal and receive assistance in identifying the most suitable Department of the University for the realisation of the project. In particular to: 

  • enhance their profile by setting up their CV and track record in the best possible way 
  • receive support from specialised personnel at all stages of proposal preparation
  • prepare the budget with the assistance and guidance of expert staff
  • prepare for the interview by means of simulations organised by the University in order to train candidates admitted to the second evaluation step. 

In the event of admission to funding, a dedicated contact person will be assigned to follow the researcher through all the stages of negotiation and subsequent reporting.

Professors or researchers who have already won an ERC project and intend to transfer their project to Florence may contact the UP European and International Research to get in touch with the University structures, to agree on the terms and methods for the transfer of the grant and to receive assistance in all the steps required by the EU to formalise the transfer of the project. 

For winners of individual ERC projects, Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca (MUR) Decree 919 of 22 July 2022 provides for the possibility of direct appointment under tenure track positions

The University ERC Task Force, established in November 2017, includes professors from the University of Florence who have been awarded ERC funding, with the aim of assisting all researchers who choose the University of Florence as a Host Institution to carry out research activities funded by the European Research Council. 

The Task Force was set up with the aim of promoting participation in ERC calls by carrying out consultancy activities during the preparation of project proposals. Professors/researchers interested in participating in ERC calls and in benefiting from the support of the Task Force, can send their CV and an abstract of their project idea of maximum 2000 characters to the European and International Research Office - Research Infrastructures and Services Area via email at ricercaue(AT)unifi.it.

Panel

For the period 2024-2027, the members of the University ERC Task Force are:

Panel Life Sciences

  • Paola Romagnani

Panel Physical Sciences and Engineering

  • Leonardo Fallani
  • Mauro Perfetti
  • Stefania Salvadori
  • Roberta Sessoli

Panel Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Maria Sofia Lannutti
  • Zaroui Poggossian
  • Silvia Salvatici
  • Daniele Vignoli

Research Infrastructures and Services Area

  • Eleonora Agresti - administrative support