Joint letter proposes alternative ways to tackle oversubscription, with the ERC Scientific Council likely to consider its options this week
Maria Leptin, president of the European Research Council (left) and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission (right). Photo credits: Dati Bendo / European Union
More than 1,000 scientists have signed a letter asking the European Research Council (ERC) to reverse its decision to introduce stricter rules for resubmitting project proposals. Sources close to the ERC say its Scientific Council may revisit the decision at a meeting this week.
Instead of excluding more researchers from resubmitting proposals after a rejection, the letter asks the ERC Scientific Council, which guides the fundamental research agency’s work, to consider revamping the application process to include two stages, which would allow for stronger pre-submission filtering.
“It may not be the right signal to restrict who can apply because of administrative reasons,” says Sarah-Maria Fendt, a professor of…
Discover the latest in research funding every Tuesday with Funding Newswire. Dive into detailed articles with our monthly or yearly subscriptions or start with a free trial
NOTE: if you're a part of one of our Network member organisations, you get free access by signing up with your institutional email. Verify your eligibility here.
Receive the Funding Newswire [full access requires a subscription] each Tuesday, our Policy Bulletin each Thursday, and the fortnightly R&D Express, tracking reforms and investments in central and eastern Europe. 
A unique international forum for public research organisations and companies to connect their external engagement with strategic interests around their R&D system.