The European Research Council Established by the European
The European Research Council Established by the European Commission Bioen. NW Final International Conference, 24 September, Brussels European Research Council – Bioenergy Research Angeles Macias ERCEA Scientific Officer │1 © Art & Build Architect / Montois Partners / credits: S. Brison
ERC in the H 2020 Structure Established by the European Commission The HORIZON 2020 main components: 1. Excellent Science World class science is foundation of technologies, jobs, well-being Europe needs to develop, attract, retain research talent Researchers need access to the best infrastructures 2. 3. Industrial leadership Societal challenges Excellent Science: § European Research Council (budget under H 2020: € 13 billion) § Future and Emerging Technologies § Marie Skłodoswka Curie Actions § Research Infrastructures │2
ERC Grant Schemes Established by the European Commission Starting Grants Consolidator Grants starters (2 -7 years after Ph. D) up to € 2. 0 Mio for 5 years consolidators (7 -12 years after Ph. D) up to € 2. 75 Mio for 5 years Advanced Grants track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years up to € 3. 5 Mio for 5 years Proof-of-Concept bridging gap between research - earliest stage of marketable innovation up to € 150, 000 for ERC grant holders │3
ERC Funding Schemes Who can apply? Established by the European Commission • Excellent Researchers • Any nationality, any age or any current place of work • In conjunction with a Host Institution based in EU or associated countries At least 50% of the time spent in EU or AC │4
What is ERC? Established by the European Commission Support for the individual scientist – no networks! No predetermined subjects (bottom-up) Support of frontier research in all fields of science and humanities Budget: € 13 billion (2014 -2020) - 1. 9 billion €/year € 7. 5 billion (2007 -2013) - 1. 1 billion €/year │5 2
Submission to Panels Established by the European Commission • Proposals are submitted to a Targeted Panel (of PI's choice) Can flag one “Secondary Review Panel” Can explain the interdisciplinary nature of the proposal • Switching proposals between panels not possible unless clear mistake on part of applicant, necessary expertise being available in a different panel • But: In case of cross-panel or cross-domain proposals, evaluation by members of other panels possible │6
ERC basics Evaluation of proposals: proposals main features Established by the European Commission Goal of the evaluation: select the best frontier research proposals Only evaluation criteria: excellence of the PI and the Project Method: Two steps, peer review Structure: 25 panels (10 -15 experts/panel) │7
ERC Evaluation process (St. G, Co. G & Ad. G) Panel structure: 3 domains and 25 panels Established by the European Commission Social Sciences and Humanities (SH) - 6 panels Life Sciences (LS) - 9 panels SH 1 Markets, Individuals & Institutions SH 2 The Social World, Diversity & Common Ground SH 3 Environment, Space & Population SH 4 The Human Mind and its Complexity SH 5 Cultures & Cultural Production SH 6 The Study of the Human Past LS 1 Molecular & Structural Biology & Biochemistry LS 2 Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics & Systems Biology LS 3 Cellular & Developmental Biology LS 4 Physiology, Pathophysiology & Physical Sciences & Engineering (PE) - 10 panels Endocrinology PE 1 Mathematics LS 5 Neurosciences & Neural disorders PE 2 Fundamental Constituents of Matter LS 6 Immunity & Infection PE 3 Condensed Matter Physics LS 7 Diagnostic Tools, Therapies & Public health PE 4 Physical & Analytical Chemical sciences LS 8 Evolutionary, Population & Environmental PE 5 Synthetic Chemistry & Materials Biology PE 6 Computer Science & Informatics LS 9 Applied Life Sciences & Non-Medical PE 7 Systems & Communication Engineering Biotechnology PE 8 Products & Process Engineering PE 9 Universe Sciences PE 10 Earth System Science
After 8 Years of Existence… A Success Story Established by the European Commission Highly recognised by the research community Over 4 300 top researchers funded during FP 7 (2007 -2013) Other 328 young researchers selected in the first 2014 call 65% are at an early-career stage 65 nationalities represented Highly competitive (overall success rate tending to 10%) Working in almost 600 different institutions in 32 countries 50% of grantees in 50 institutions : “Excellence attracts excellence” Benchmarking effect: impact on national programmes and agencies; national funding for best "runners-up" Efficient and fast grant management │9
FP 7 ERC Calls Established by the European Commission Data as of 12/01/2015 │ 10
ERC portfolio 2007 -2013: Energy Established by the European Commission a) By year 7 Number of projects 6 5 4 3 2 20 2013 20 12 1 2010 2009 0 2008 New materials Wind energy. Socio-economic Thermoelectric Energy Li Batteries Bioenergy Fuel cells and. Photovoltaics 07 research materials efficiency Supercapacitors hydrogen │ 11
ERC portfolio 2007 -2013: Energy Established by the European Commission b) By panel 35 New materials Number of projects 30 Socio-economic research 25 Energy efficiency Bioenergy 20 Wind energy 15 Thermoelectric materials Li batteries supercapacitors 10 Fuel cells and hydrogen 5 Photovoltaics 0 LS 1 LS 7 LS 9 PE 3 PE 4 PE 5 PE 7 PE 8 SH 3 │ 12
LS 9 Applied Life Sciences and Non-Medical Biotechnology: Applied plant and animal sciences; food sciences; forestry; industrial, environmental and non-medical biotechnologies, bioengineering; synthetic and chemical biology; biomimetics; bioremediation Established by the European Commission LS 9_1 Non-medical biotechnology and genetic engineering (including transgenic organisms, recombinant proteins, biosensors, bioreactors, microbiology) LS 9_2 Synthetic biology, chemical biology and bio-engineering LS 9_3 Animal sciences (including animal husbandry, aquaculture, fisheries, animal welfare) LS 9_4 Plant sciences (including crop production, plant breeding, agroecology, soil biology) LS 9_5 Food sciences (including food technology, nutrition) LS 9_6 Forestry and biomass production (including biofuels) LS 9_7 Environmental biotechnology (including bioremediation, biodegradation) LS 9_8 Biomimetics LS 9_9 Biohazards (including biological containment, biosafety, biosecurity)
PE 8 Products and Processes Engineering: Product design, process design and control, construction methods, civil engineering, energy processes, material eng. Established by the European Commission PE 8_1 Aerospace engineering PE 8_2 Chemical engineering, technical chemistry PE 8_3 Civil engineering, architecture, maritime/hydraulic engineering, geotechnics, waste treatment PE 8_4 Computational engineering PE 8_5 Fluid mechanics, hydraulic-, turbo-, and piston engines PE 8_6 Energy processes engineering PE 8_7 Mechanical and manufacturing engineering (shaping, mounting, joining, separation) PE 8_8 Materials engineering (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, etc. ) PE 8_9 Production technology, process engineering PE 8_10 Industrial design (product design, ergonomics, man-machine interfaces, etc. ) PE 8_11 Sustainable design (for recycling, for environment, eco-design) PE 8_12 Lightweight construction, textile technology PE 8_13 Industrial bioengineering
LS 1 Molecular and Structural Biology and Biochemistry: Molecular synthesis, modification and interaction, biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, metabolism, signal transduction Established by the European Commission LS 1_1 Molecular interactions LS 1_2 General biochemistry and metabolism LS 1_3 DNA synthesis, modification, repair, recombination and degradation LS 1_4 RNA synthesis, processing, modification and degradation LS 1_5 Protein synthesis, modification and turnover LS 1_6 Lipid synthesis, modification and turnover LS 1_7 Carbohydrate synthesis, modification and turnover LS 1_8 Biophysics (e. g. transport mechanisms, bioenergetics, fluorescence) LS 1_9 Structural biology (crystallography and EM) LS 1_10 Structural biology (NMR) LS 1_11 Biochemistry and molecular mechanisms of signal transduction
ERC portfolio 2007 -2013: Bioenergy Established by the European Commission FUEL-PATH POPFULL 3 CBIOTECH Direct. Fuel 2 G-Csafe Cellu. Fuel ELECTROTALK i-Ca. D Co. G St. G Ad. G 15, 35 MEuro │ 16
ERC portfolio 2007 -2013: Bioenergy Established by the European Commission i-Ca. D ELECTROTALK Cellu. Fuel 2 G-CSafe Photo. Bio. Fuel 3 CBIOTECH POPFULL FUEL-PATH 0 1 2 3 4 5 │ 17
Prof Felice Cervone FUEL-PATH (Ad. G 2008 – LS 9) Univeristy of La Sapienza, Roma Established by the European Commission Exploring the saccharification potential of pathogenic microorganisms to improve biofuel production from plants Alter the "egg box" structure of pectin without detrimental effects on plant growth │ 18
Prof Felice Cervone FUEL-PATH (Ad. G 2008 – LS 9) Univeristy of La Sapienza, Roma Established by the European Commission • Major achievements: It was demonstrated that pectin plays a major role during the conversion of lignocellulose into biofuels. Reduced levels of de-esterified homogalacturan (HGA) bring to a better saccarification. For this transgenic plants over-expressing polygalatturonases (PG) or inhibiting pectin methyl-tranferase enzymes (PMEI) are proposed. The expression of PG should be place under the control of senescence. • • • 14 articles in top journals (PNAS, Plant Physiology) An international team of 9 post-docs, 5 Ph. D students presented their thesis. 2 patents submitted directly related to the project │ 19
Prof Reinhart J. M. Ceulemans POPFULL (Ad. G 2008 – LS 9) University of Antwerp Established by the European Commission System analysis of a bio-energy plantation: full greenhouse gas balance and energy accounting 2 y short rotation woody crops 15, 5 ha planted Lochristi, East-Flanders 12 poplar and 3 willow genotypes 8. 000 trees/ha │ 20
Prof Reinhart J. M. Ceulemans POPFULL (Ad. G 2008 – LS 9) University of Antwerp Established by the European Commission • Major achievements: Complete cradle-to-grave analysis of a renewable bioenergy source. Bioenergy production highly energy efficient: 8 times more energy than put in. 18 ha provide energy for 50 households. Net CO 2 sink but net CH 4 and N 2 O emission to atmosphere. Bioenergy culture as tested is not economically viable (costs 5 times higher than benefit) and a substantial amount of land required (1 m 2 per k. Wh). • • • 30 articles in peer reviewed journals (3 cited in the IPCC Report 4 Ph. D students presented their thesis. 47 presentations and media briefings (including a National Geographic TV documentary) │ 21
Dr Gavin Collins 3 CBIOTECH (St. G 2010 – LS 9) National University of Ireland, Galway Established by the European Commission Cold Carbon Catabolism of Microbial Communities underpinning a Sustainable Bioenergy and Biorefinery Economy Low T (<20 o. C) anaerobic digestion Waste and biomass Microbial communities Biorefinery applications Granular anaerobic sludge │ 22
Dr Gavin Collins 3 CBIOTECH (St. G 2010 – LS 9) National University of Ireland, Galway Established by the European Commission • Major achievements: Identification of key species of microbes linked to process disturbance and operating problems. "ecosystems models" to predict microbial community structure. Control the buoyancy of the granules and their retention in the bioreactor. New approach to immobilize specific microbes on inert particles to produce artificial granules. • • 3 articles in peer reviewed journals 10 Ph. D students 2 postdoc. │ 23
Dr Patrik Raymond Jones Photo. Bio. Fuel (Co. G 2010 – LS 9) University of Turku, Finland Established by the European Commission Direct photobiological conversion of solar energy to volatile transport fuels Photobiological production of volatile alkane using only light, CO 2 and H 2 O in cyanobacteria host │ 24
Dr Patrik Raymond Jones Photo. Bio. Fuel (Co. G 2010 – LS 9) University of Turku, Finland Established by the European Commission • Major achievements: A novel metabolic pathway was developed that allows the chain-length of the fuel to be tuned. The genetic stability of cyanobacteria and the functionality of alkane-biosynthetic enzymes have been studied. The host plays an important role in the genetic stability and more than one component is required to enable maximum rates of alkane synthesis. • 1 article in PNAS │ 25
Dr Philippe Dagaut 2 G-CSafe (Ad. G 2011 – PE 8) Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Established by the European Commission Combustion of Sustainable Alternative Fuels for Engines used in aeronautics and automotives Chemical kinetics of oxidation Fuel reformulation New pollutants Qualification of new fuels on engine behaviour │ 26
Dr Philippe Dagaut 2 G-CSafe (Ad. G 2011 – PE 8) Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Established by the European Commission • Major achievements: New experimental set-up to measure key-intermediated radicals. New comprehensive kinetic models have been developed for an extended range of chemical classes in relation to 2 Gbiofuels combustion. Modelling of the oxidation of fuels perturbed by ozone, NO and NO 2. • • 20 articles in high impact journals 19 presentations in scientific conferences │ 27
Prof. Dr. Hermann E. Gaub Cellu. Fuel (Ad. G 2011 – LS 1) LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN Established by the European Commission Designer Cellulosomes by Single Molecule Cut & Paste Cellulosomes are large extracellular bacterial enzyme complexes which break down plan cell wall polysaccharides │ 28
Prof. Dr. Hermann E. Gaub Cellu. Fuel (Ad. G 2011 – LS 1) LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN Established by the European Commission • Major achievements: Develop novel technologies to produce large arrays of the molecular constituents of cellulosomes by in vitro expression on a micro-fluidics chip. New AFM-based instruments. Identify suitable molecular complexes for pick-up and delivery the enzymes. Suitable fluorescence based assay to monitor the enzymatic activity of the cellulases. • • 9 articles in high impact journals (PNAS, Nature) 1 intended patent. │ 29
Prof. KORNEEL RABAEY ELECTROTALK (St. G 2012 – LS 9) GHENT UNIVERSITY (UGENT) Established by the European Commission Starting an electrical conversation between microorganisms and electrodes to achieve bioproduction Better understand the electrical interaction between microorganisms and conductive surfaces Microbial Electrochemistry CO 2 fixation Sustainable energy source │ 30
Prof. KORNEEL RABAEY ELECTROTALK (St. G 2012 – LS 9) GHENT UNIVERSITY (UGENT) Established by the European Commission • Major achievements: Microbial growth and adherence to electrodes enhanced. New method was developed to determine microbial kinetics in anaerobic conditions by using a rotating disk electrode. Analysis of biocompatibility on several electrode materials for use in MES. • • 20 articles in peer reviewed journals 1 patent. 2 Ph. D thesis. 38 presentations in seminars and scientific conferences. │ 31
Prof. Joris Wilfried Maria Cornelius Thybaut i-Ca. D (Co. G 2013 – PE 8) GHENT UNIVERSITY (UGENT) Established by the European Commission Innovative Catalyst Design for Large-Scale, Sustainable Processes Model reactions: Oxygen removal - fast pyrolysis oil stabilization - glycerol hydrogenolysis Oxidation reaction - selective oxidation of (bio)ethanol to acetaldehyde Multi-scale catalyst design methodology │ 32
ERC Grants – Funded Projects Established by the European Commission Menu allows searching by Funding Scheme, Call Year and Country of Host Institution. │ 33
Main calls from the 2016 budget Established by the European Commission Starting Grant Consolidator Grant Advance Grant Call identifier ERC-2016 -St. G ERC-2016 -Co. G ERC-2016 -Ad. G Call Opens 23 July 2015 15 October 2015 24 May 2016 Deadline 17 November 2015 2 February 2016 1 September 2016 │ 34
More information: Established by the European Commission • Read the Information for Applicants and the Work Programme. • Any doubts about your eligibility or any other questions, contact one of the NCPs or the ERCEA. http: //cordis. europa. eu/national_service/home_en. html • subscribe to the ERC newsletter http: //erc. europa. eu/keep-updated-erc European. Research. Council ERC_Research │ 35
Established by the European Commission THANK YOU… QUESTIONS? │ 36
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