Funding for Individual Researchers: What Actually Works in MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships and ERC Grants

Free Live Webinar · Thursday, 24 November 2026

Most individual researcher proposals are not lost because of the science.

They are lost because the wrong scheme is chosen, the first page does not create a strong enough case, or the track record reads like a CV instead of evidence of why this researcher can deliver the proposed work.

In this practical 60-minute webinar, you will see how MSCA-PF evaluators and ERC panel members read proposals during their first minutes of assessment, which sentences shape their first impression, and which scheme fits your career stage under the 2027 rules.

Stay for up to 30 additional minutes of open Q&A.

Webinar Details

Date: Thursday, 24 November 2026
Time: 11:00–12:00 Brussels time (12:00–13:00 Athens)
Open Q&A: Until 12:30 Brussels time
Format: Live Zoom
Price: Free

Reserve My Free Seat

Why Attend

ERC and MSCA-PF proposals succeed through strong positioning: the right scheme, a gap the evaluator believes matters, and a researcher the evaluator trusts to close it.

During this webinar, you will learn:

• Which scheme fits your career stage under the 2027 ERC rules

• How the ERC Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grant routes differ

• How the MSCA-PF 8-year eligibility rule affects your options

• What an ERC panel looks for during its first reading

• Why the gap, "why now" and preliminary-result sentences matter

• Why scientifically strong proposals can still receive a B

• What "supervisor and host fit" means to an MSCA-PF evaluator

• Why some Widening-host MSCA-PF applications lose points despite strong science

• How to turn your track record from a CV into evidence

• The common track-record weaknesses that hurt Advanced Grant applications

What You Will Walk Away With

01 — Confirm Your Scheme and Your Year

A practical one-page decision framework covering MSCA-PF, ERC Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grant, with the relevant 2027 eligibility windows applied to your career stage.

02 — Your Four Whys on One Page

Work through:

Why this? Why now? Why you? Why here?

You will also see two anonymised examples and how the panel interpreted each.

03 — The Risk-Novelty Sentence

Examine three real-world risk-novelty examples and see how the panel reads each one.

You will then have the opportunity to rewrite your own risk-novelty positioning during the session.

Who Runs It

Dr. Nikolaos Floratos

EU funding consultant since 1997 and European Commission expert evaluator since 2003, with experience across FP4, FP5, FP6, FP7, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe and EIC programmes.

• 50,000+ researchers and innovation actors trained

• Experience across 45+ countries

• Creator of the OpenCosmos platform

• Trainer of ERC, MSCA, Erasmus+ and AI grant-writing courses at the Funding Expert Academy

Who Should Attend

This webinar is designed for:

• Postdoctoral researchers within 8 years of their PhD considering MSCA-PF 2027

• Researchers 2–15 years after their PhD deciding between ERC Starting and Consolidator

• Established PIs preparing for an ERC Advanced Grant

• Supervisors and host institutions supporting MSCA-PF applicants

• University research offices supporting individual grant applicants

• Researchers preparing a resubmission who want to understand why their previous proposal did not score higher

Included with Your Free Registration

Your free registration includes:

• Live webinar access

• Presentation slides

• One-page scheme decision sheet

• Practical exercises on positioning and track record

• A EUR 50 discount code for the ERC Success Lab, valid for 48 hours after the webinar

Next Step: ERC Success Lab · 3 December 2026

For researchers pursuing an ERC grant, the next step is a half-day practical writing session on Thursday, 3 December 2026.

Bring your B1 draft and work live on:

• The four Whys

• Your risk-novelty positioning

• Your track-record narrative

• Proposal positioning under evaluator-style review

The session also includes a free pre-submission evaluation arrangement before the ERC Consolidator deadline.

Price: EUR 350

Webinar participants receive EUR 50 off the ERC Success Lab when they register within 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

I cannot attend live. Will I get the recording?

No. This webinar is live only, and no recording is sent to registrants.

Participants who attend the follow-up ERC Success Lab will receive access to its recording.

I do not know yet whether MSCA-PF or ERC is right for me.

That's exactly what the first part of the webinar is designed to address.

You will work through the relevant 2027 eligibility windows and compare the different routes before deciding which scheme fits your career stage.

Is this only for first-time applicants?

No. Resubmittters can benefit equally.

Many unsuccessful proposals are not rejected because the underlying science is weak, but because of positioning, scheme choice, the first page or how the applicant's track record is presented.

I only want to apply for MSCA-PF. Is the 3 December lab for me?

No. The 3 December ERC Success Lab is focused on ERC applications.

A dedicated MSCA-PF course will follow in spring 2027, ahead of the September 2027 deadline. Webinar registrants will be informed first.

Questions?

Email: info@keyinnovations.eu