Widening - ERA Chairs

Supporting the implementation of structural changes in universities or research organisations of low R&I performing countries with international research management guidance excellence

What is the ERA Chair action?

European Research Area Chairs action aims to support universities or research organisations from low R&I performing countries ("Widening Countries") to attract and maintain high-quality human resources under the direction of an outstanding researcher and research manager (the 'ERA Chair holder'), and to implement structural changes to achieve excellence on a sustainable basis.

Type of Action: Coordination and Support Action (CSA), funding networking, coordination or support services, policy dialogues, and mutual learning exercises and studies.

Who can apply?

  • Two options:
    • One entity: One university or a research organisation established in a Widening Country to submit as the Beneficiary.
    • Partnership: One university or research organisation established in a Widening Country to submit as a Co-ordinator in case of partnership with the legal entity that is employing the prospective ERA Chair holder.
  • The ERA Chair holder or the ERA Chair legal entity sending the chair team members can be from any country and any nationality, including outside of the EU (e.g. Israel).
  • ERA Chair holders should be excellent researchers and/or innovators in the chosen field of research and will establish a team to be fully integrated in the co-ordinator's institution.
  • At least 50% of the team members chosen must not have had previous contractual links with the co-ordinator. 
  • The ERA Chair holder should have a position within the organisation/university, allowing her/him to make appropriate resource allocation decisions, supervise team members and freely apply for research funding.

Expected Outcomes:

  • Inciting institutional reforms in research institutions in Widening Countries.
  • Better use in existing research infrastructures, and populating them with excellent talents in Widening Countries.
  • Attract first-class talents and turn them into game-changers in institutions.
  • Revert brain drain.
  • Improved linkages and increased mobility between academics and businesses, notably by overcoming sectoral barriers.
  • Free circulation of knowledge and expertise in line with ERA priorities.
  • Improve gender balance and equal opportunities.
  • Increase in the number of R&I talents moving to host organisations in Widening Countries.
  • Increase in international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral mobility of researchers and innovators.
  • Assist with closing the still apparent R&I gap in Widening Countries. 
  • Research excellence of the institution in the specific fields covered by the ERA Chair holder.
  • Increased attractiveness of the institution for internationally excellent and mobile researchers.

Scope Highlights: 

  • Attention will be paid to the proposed cutting-edge R&I excellence. A preparatory research activity may be included in the proposal.
  • Research organisations from Widening Countries shall apply with the prospective ERA Chair holder from a chosen scientific domain mentioned under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
  • The proposal should detail how the proposed activities with the ERA Chair holder will upgrade from the current situation, for example, in research performance or obtaining competitive funding.
  • To ensure the sustainability of the action, the ERA Chair research team should have conditions to thrive at the organisation after the end of the Horizon Europe funding.

Funding:

  • Expected EU Contribution per Project: EUR 1.5-2.5M
  • Project Duration: Up to five years.
  • Eligible Costs:
    • Expenses related to the ERA Chair holder and a number of team members (e.g. their salaries, recruitment costs, administrative costs, travel, and subsistence costs).
    • Research costs up to 10% of the EU contribution.
    • Costs to be claimed by a partner institution should be mainly linked to personnel seconded to the co-ordinator.
    • Contribution towards measures aimed at facilitating structural changes in the institution (e.g. costs for training, meetings, publications, and managing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Calls:

  • The call closed on March 15, 2022. The next call is yet to be scheduled

For more information please refer to the full ERA Chairs - Widening 2021-2022 Work Programme.

Call Information

 

Further Information:

 

Contact Us

For questions regarding the call and its submission requirements please contact the Widening team at ISERD.