EURYI - European Young Investigator Awards

Call for proposals

The European Union Research Organisations Heads of Research Councils (EUROHORCs), wishing to contribute to the building of the European Research Area decided to co-ordinate some of their activities in creating the European Young Investigator (EURYI) Awards, in collaboration with the European Science Foundation. The aim of the EU-RYI Awards will be to enable and encourage outstanding young researchers from all over the world, to work in a European environment for the benefit of the development of European science and the building up of the next gen-eration of leading European researchers.

The main selection criteria to be used by the EURYI Awards will be scientific quality, originality and potential. The EURYI Awards shall foster innovative research, novel scientific problems and/or novel methodologies. Applicants should have an excellent track record with the potential to become world-class leaders in their respective field of research.

Applicant eligibility

Open to researchers from anywhere in the world who have between 2 and 10 years of postdoctoral experience at the closing date of the call, taking into account career breaks.

Award characteristics

  • The applicant is responsible for agreeing suitable arrangements with a host institution before submitting an application.
  • The award will last for a 5 year period, subject to satisfactory progress.
  • The total value of an award will range from 750 to 1250 kEURO (150 to 250 kEURO per year).
  • Eligible costs will be based on existing practices within the participating organisation.
  • Awards will be subject to the terms and conditions of the participating organisation through which the EURYI application is submitted.
  • A complete list of participating organisations can be found at Annex 1 and at www.esf.org/euryi

Application process

  • Applications should be submitted through one of the participating organisations, with the written approval of an authorised person or the highest governing body of the Host Institution.
  • Application forms are available on the websites of the Participating Organisations (See Annex 1)
  • An applicant may submit only one application per call within the entire scheme and submission of more than one application will result in AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION AND EXCLUSION from the selection process.
  • Applicants should submit both an electronic version and a signed paper version of the EURYI application form.
  • Applications should be completed in English.
  • Other relevant information on the application process can be found at the website of each of the participating organisations (Annex 1).

Assessment of Applications

The assessment of applications will be undertaken in two stages, Stage One (S-1) will be carried out at national level and Stage Two (S-2) will be carried out at European level. The European Science Foundation (ESF) being in charge of the management, the coordination and the European phase of the evaluation process.

Time Schedule

  • Application submission: From 15 September to 15 December 2003
  • S-1 National level:
    15 December 2003 – 30 April 2004
    S-2 European level:
    1 May – 31 August 2004
    Assessment process:
    • Announcement of Awards: September 2004
    • Starting date of award: October 2004-Onwards
    • - Additional information: www.esf.org/euryi

PEER REVIEW CRITERIA

Scientific Quality

  1. Applicant
    • Potential to become a world-class leader in the respective field of research
    • Scientific background and track record
    • Quality of publications
    • Abilities as an independent researcher
    • Potential for research team leadership and project management
    • International research collaboration
  2. Research unit within the host institution
    • Internationally recognised level of excellence
    • Capability to host the applicant and the proposed research
    • Research proposal
    • The potential of the proposed project to improve the competitiveness of European research at world level.
    • Originality and groundbreaking character
    • International context of the field of research
    • Feasibility of the proposal
    • Appropriateness of the chosen methods