ERC: building an excellent idea and taking it to the level required by the call

The experience of Efrén Fernández

Securing funding from the European Research Council (ERC) is, for many researchers, a turning point. Not only because of the funding itself, but because of what it represents: scientific independence, the ability to develop one’s own research line, and international recognition.

But getting there is rarely a straightforward process.

The trajectory of Efrén Fernández Grande, a researcher at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) in the field of acoustic engineering, illustrates this well. Before being awarded his ERC Consolidator Grant 2025, he had already submitted a previous proposal to the same call. As is often the case with ERC, the process involved a significant evolution of the idea, as well as a gradual refinement of its approach, until reaching the level of ambition and robustness required in a highly competitive environment.

An ambitious idea… and the challenge of making it evaluable

The motivation to apply for ERC was clear: to shape an ambitious idea he had been developing for some time and to secure the resources needed to pursue it independently. However, the main challenge lay precisely in defining and developing an idea with the level of scientific excellence and methodological robustness required by the call, in a context where standards are particularly high and competition is intense.

In fields like his, positioned at the intersection of different disciplines, this challenge becomes even more relevant. The proposal must be understood by evaluators who are not necessarily experts in the field, which requires translating complex concepts into a clear, coherent and accessible narrative without losing rigour. This translation exercise is often decisive.

Refining the proposal at a key moment

It was in the final stage of preparation that Efrén received support from Kveloce, through a strategic review of his proposal and an interview mock service. The aim of this support was not to redefine the scientific content, but to provide an external perspective at a crucial moment in the process, helping to refine aspects relevant to the evaluation and to prepare for interaction with the panel.

As he highlights, one of the most valuable aspects was the ability to interpret what the ERC truly expects and translate it into his specific field:

“She understood very well what is expected in ERC and how to translate it into my specific field, without being an expert in the subject.”

The review helped strengthen the clarity of the impact, adjust how risks and implementation were presented, and improve the overall coherence of the proposal at a particularly sensitive stage close to the deadline. Equally important was how recommendations were prioritised, making it easier to integrate them alongside other feedback received in parallel.

“The review was very useful, both in terms of content and the way it was delivered.”

The balance sought by evaluation panels

Beyond specific adjustments, the experience highlights a key aspect of ERC: the need to strike a very precise balance between ambition and feasibility. Proposals must be disruptive, but also credible; innovative, but grounded in a track record that inspires confidence in their execution.

In Efrén’s case, this balance was achieved. The project, SONIFY, was perceived as ambitious yet aligned with his previous experience, reinforcing its feasibility in the eyes of the evaluation panel. It is precisely at this point — difficult to achieve — where many competitive proposals manage to stand out.

Preparing for the interview: understanding the panel’s logic

The interview stage introduces a new level of demand. It is not only about defending the project content, but also about understanding how the evaluation process works from the panel’s perspective.

Through the mock interview conducted with Kveloce, Efrén was able to work not only on his answers, but also on anticipating the dynamics of the panel:

“It helped me put things into context and start visualising what the process would be like.”

This type of preparation allows candidates to adjust their communication style, understand what type of responses are expected, and approach the interview with greater confidence and clarity.

Real barriers in preparing an ERC proposal

The experience also highlights some of the common challenges in preparing an ERC proposal. Lack of time in academic environments, the need to stay focused amidst multiple responsibilities, and the difficulty of communicating highly specialised ideas to non-expert evaluators are recurring barriers.

In this regard, external support provides a strategic perspective that helps identify areas for improvement that are not always visible from within.ç

“It was very helpful to understand the specific requirements and how to approach the proposal.”

Beyond funding

Although at the time of the interview the project had not yet started, the impact of the ERC was already clearly perceived. It represents the opportunity to dedicate time, resources and attention to one’s own research line, with a level of depth that this type of funding enables.

“Being able to dedicate time and resources to a project of this scale is very valuable.”

This is accompanied by the scientific recognition that comes with receiving an ERC grant, placing the researcher in a prominent position within their community.

Scientific excellence as a foundation, strategy as a complement

Efrén Fernández’s experience reflects a reality shared by many researchers: in ERC calls, the starting point is always a scientifically excellent and methodologically robust idea. From there, aspects such as coherence in the proposal’s structure, clarity in its articulation, and the positioning of the researcher as a leader contribute to strengthening its evaluation in a highly competitive context.

At Kveloce, we have delivered over 400 services related to ERC calls and supported more than 60 projects to successful funding. This track record allows us to work with researchers and institutions from a truly strategic perspective: not only to strengthen a proposal, but to ensure that its excellence is understood, valued and recognised by evaluation panels.