How to build an ERC project? Practical insights from grantees

During the panel session, ERC grant holders addressed the question “How to build an ERC project around a strong scientific question?”. Prof. Michał Tomza, ERC Starting, emphasized that a key competence for applicants is the ability to convince the scientific community of their idea and to summarise the project in a single sentence answering three fundamental questions: “What?”, “Why?” and “How?”. “The more credible you are, the more ambitious – and even bold – your project can be,” he said.

Dr Ewa Chrostek, ERC Starting Grant holder, noted that it is important to surround oneself with people who have strong and inspiring ideas, as this fosters the development of one’s own concepts. She also defined a strong ERC candidate as an independent, competent and internationally recognised researcher capable of using clear, jargon-free language. Dr Paweł Nowakowski highlighted the importance of choosing the right research topic, understanding the needs of one’s scientific community, and the ability to work across disciplines.

In the second part of the ERC session, the discussion on the concept of groundbreaking research continued. In the panel titled “How is breakthrough potential assessed?”, moderated by Prof. Michał Tomza and featuring Prof. Alicja Józkowicz, Prof. Bronisław Rudak, Prof. Agata Nalborczyk and Prof. Joanna Odrowąż-Sypniewska, speakers stressed that the ability to go beyond the current state of knowledge and to manage research risk consciously is essential. They pointed out that breakthroughs may arise from a new research question, a new methodology, or a combination of both. The discussion also highlighted differences between the ERC approach and the more conservative strategies often seen in national funding systems.

The day concluded with a presentation by Renata Kaszewska-Mika, Project Coordinator at the National Programmes and EU Funds Department of the NCBR, who introduced the NCBR LIDER UP programme. As she emphasised, it offers an opportunity to develop the competences of early-career researchers. She also explained what NCBR offers to researchers and how to apply for the programme.

Different paths to ERC – inspirations from the second day

The second day, titled Career Paths, was dedicated to exploring different routes leading to ERC grants. Opening the session, Katarzyna Kubica-Oroń, NCP at NCBR highlighted the diversity of the scientific community present at the Copernicus Festival, as well as on the ERC Stage.

In the session “ERC Testimonials: different paths to ERC”, Prof. Artur Obłuski emphasised the inclusiveness of the scientific world, pointing out that even an unconventional career path can lead to outstanding achievements. Dr hab. Anna Siekierka underlined the importance of going beyond the laboratory and engaging with society, allowing research to have a real impact on our lives. Presentations by Dr Łukasz Bola and Dr Krzysztof Szade clearly showed that the road to ERC is a long-term process requiring persistence, mobility and openness to criticism. Building a strong track record and competences well before submitting a proposal is essential – it is “a marathon, not a sprint.”

In the final panel discussion titled “CV and track record in ERC evaluation”, moderated by Prof. Paweł Dydio, participants included members of ERC evaluation panels: Prof. Stefan Dziembowski, Prof. Małgorzata Filip, Prof. Robert Hołyst and Prof. Ewa Gruszczyńska.

During the discussion, Prof. Stefan Dziembowski emphasized that candidate evaluation is not based on a simple “counting of publications”, but rather on the real impact on the development of a given field. Prof. Ewa Gruszczyńska pointed out that the key factor is the potential of the project and clear answers to the questions: “Why me?”, “Why now?”, “Why this discipline?” and “Why this project?”. As she noted, all these elements should be evident at first glance in the candidate’s CV.

Leaders in science

The third day of the festival featured the NCBR Session, including two panel discussions. The first focused on the LIDER programme and brought together young leaders of Polish science. Participants emphasized how important their involvement in the programme had been for their scientific development and how it contributed to the growth of their research careers.

The second discussion addressed the growing phenomenon of student drop-out rates, which have been increasing in recent years. More and more young people decide to leave their studies prematurely or change their field of study multiple times. The panelists discussed what universities can do to better retain students and how public policy can support these efforts. Both panels were complemented by a short presentation on the concept of lifelong learning and the opportunities for supporting universities through European funds.

What’s next? New challenges and continued collaboration

The ERC session at Copernicus Festival 2026 demonstrated the importance of initiatives that combine science communication with practical support for the research community. Thanks to the involvement of the Polish National Contact Point at NCBR and the presence of NCBR, the event gained a systemic dimension, becoming a platform for dialogue on how to effectively advance Polish science in the European context. Success in ERC projects requires not only scientific excellence, but also courage, strong communication skills and institutional support. The synergy of these elements may translate into a stronger presence of Polish researchers in Europe’s most prestigious funding programmes.