Learning from Experience: Submitting ERC Starting Grant Applications

Within the Latvian research landscape, funding instruments offered by the European Research Council (ERC) are gaining increasing importance, providing researchers with the opportunity to implement high-level and internationally competitive projects. To support Latvian researchers in preparing for participation in these calls, an online seminar “Learning from Experience: Submitting ERC Starting Grant Applications” is being organized.

The event is dedicated to sharing experiences with leading researchers who have prepared and submitted ERC Starting Grant applications and participated in the evaluation process. The seminar will feature Dr. Jānis Veliks, Senior Researcher at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis. He will present key insights gained from preparing a competitive proposal and taking part in the second-stage evaluation.

Dr. Veliks currently leads the project “Fluorinated Compounds via Nodal Synthesis” (F-NODE), which was originally submitted to the ERC Starting Grant call and later refinanced through the European Regional Development Fund. This case offers a practical perspective on different ways to ensure the implementation of a research idea, even if the initial funding source is not secured.

A second speaker will also join the seminar and will be announced in due course.

Programme:

• 11:00–11:05 – Opening remarks

• 11:05–11:25 – Presentation by Dr. Jānis Veliks

• 11:25–11:45 – Presentation (speaker to be announced)

• 11:45–12:00 – Q&A session

The seminar will take place on the Zoom platform. Participation link is available on the BioPhoT website.