ERC Proposal Reading Day in Bergen - afternoon

The Research Council of Norway organises "ERC Proposal Reading Days" for researchers who are planning an application to the European Research Council (ERC). 

In 2026, we have 20 new applications from 2023, 2024 and 2025, including two Synergy Grant applications. All proposals are based on the previous proposal template (i.e. the version used prior to StG 2026). Nevertheless, reading them remains highly valuable, as the core elements have largely remained unchanged.

On the Proposal Reading Day you get the opportunity to read successful ERC grant proposals and see how a proposal can be structured. More than 70 Norwegian ERC-grantees have kindly given their consent to make their proposal available for the Reading Day, giving participants the opportunity to gain valuable insights and learn from examples that have successfully secured ERC funding in a highly competitive international environment.. 

If you have questions regarding your ERC application, please contact the EU-advisors/External funding advisors at your institution. You may also contact us, the National Contact Points (NCPs) for the ERC, see contact information below. Comprehensive information regarding ERC grants is available at the ERC website.

This is a quiet individual reading session.

Conditions for the Reading Days

• Only by preregistration
• You must sign Declaration of Confidentiality
• Photocopying or photos of the applications are not allowed
• Applications cannot be taken out of the reading room
• The registration is binding
• The use of AI-enabled smart glasses is prohibited

Who can participate

The Proposal Reading Days are only open for researchers at Norwegian institutions (universities, university colleges, research institutes etc.) and for EU-advisers who are employed by Norwegian institutions. Please use your institutional e-mail address when you register.

The registration is binding. If you sign up, but cannot attend after all, you must deregister before the registration deadline. People who deregister after the deadline or who do not turn up, will be blocked from participating in Reading Days for the next 3 months.

Agenda

This is an individual, in-person reading session only, and it does not include guidance or any other form of support related to ERC proposals.

In order to participate, you should be involved in preparing a proposal and be familiar with the various ERC grant schemes, as well as the conditions for participation and proposal documents.

Selecting proposals for the Reading Day

• The applications available are from funded projects at Norwegian institutions
• They are available as paper copies on the Reading Day
• You can preselect up to two proposals in the registration form

If you have problems accessing the list of proposals on your mobile device, please register from a PC.

Subject to availability, it will be possible to read other proposals during the Reading Day.

Future Reading Days

Additional Reading Days will be announced under "Events" at the Research Council web page and in our newsletters.

ERC information

The Research Council of Norway organise webinars on how to write an ERC Grant proposal each year. The webinars are announced at the Research Council of Norway’s Events web page.

It is recommended that you contact the EU advisors or external funding advisors at your institution. They can advise on internal assistance and procedures, as well as any project establishment support (PES).

If you have questions regarding your ERC proposal you may also contact us, the National Contact Points (NCPs) for the ERC, by submitting an enquiry through the Research Council of Norway's contact service.

The ERC website provides up-to-date information on the various funding schemes and current calls for proposals.

You can find abstracts for ERC funded projects on the ERC web page.  

The ERC YouTube channel offers useful videos, “ERC Classes: ERC Grant application Explained”