Horizons ERC in Montpellier: European research meetings

A day dedicated to ERC schemes will be held at the Institut de Botanique on March 31, 2025, from 8am to 5:30pm.

Organized by the University of Montpellier, in partnership with CNRS, INSERM and IRD, and with the support of ANR and France 2030 as part of the Moment-UM project, this event entitled "Horizons ERC à Montpellier: les Rencontres de la Research Européenne" will bring together leading figures from the European Research Council and ERC laureates, who will share their experiences of ERC projects in plenary sessions, round tables and workshops.

Thinking of applying for an ERC fellowship? Thinking about it, but afraid to take the plunge? Have you already applied, or do you think it's not for you? If you're a laureate and would like to exchange ideas with other researchers, share your experience and inspire those who haven't yet applied to the ERC.

This event is financed by the "Moment'UM" project (ANR-22-ASDR-0029) and benefits from state aid managed by the ANR under France 2030.

Program

Moderator: Monica Dietl, Director, Europe Matters

• From 8am: Welcome
• 8.40am - 9am: Official opening
• 9.15am - 10am: "The ERC, a European program in which France must make progress" by Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President of the European Research Council from 2014 to 2019, then acting President from 2020 to 2021.
• 10am - 10.45am: "ERC schemes: gas pedals of progress and careers" by Monique Smaihi, Head of Call Coordination at the ERC Executive Agency.
• 11h10 - 12h: Tour d'Horizon of ERC projects: presentations of winning projects
• 1:30 pm - 2:20 pm: Round table on "Equal opportunities and inclusion in research" with Geneviève Almouzni, Researcher at Institut Curie and ERC Board Member, Agnès Fichard-Carroll, VP in charge of gender equality at the University of Montpellier and Jeanne Tonnabel, Research Officer at CNRS.
• 2.20pm - 3.10pm: Round table "Towards unexplored horizons: the ERC at the service of innovation" with Philippe Combette, VP in charge of Partnerships and Innovation at the University of Montpellier, Damien Voiry, Director of Research at CNRS (other speakers to be confirmed).
• 3:40pm - 5:10pm: Registration workshops (subject to availability):
  • Workshop 1: Life Sciences, present your concept.
  • Workshop 2: From idea to ERC project, best practices and pitfalls to avoid.
  • Workshop 3: Prepare for your speech, Q&A session.
• 5.10pm - 5.20pm: Closing