ERC Success Lab: Exploit Successfully the Most Prestigious Research Funding in Europe

Half-Day Live Course · Thursday, 3 December 2026

Bring your research idea or B1 draft. Leave with your four Whys written, your risk-novelty sentence rewritten, your track record turned into evidence, and a free pre-submission evaluation booked before the Consolidator deadline.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Book My Seat — EUR 350

Course Details

Date: Thursday, 3 December 2026
Time: 09:30–13:00 Brussels time (10:30–14:00 Athens)
Format: Live workshop on Zoom · Maximum 12 paid seats
Price: EUR 350 + VAT where applicable

Why Attend

ERC panels make their Step 1 decision primarily from your extended synopsis and track record.

From 2027, feasibility is assessed at Step 2. That makes the first-stage challenge even clearer: does the panel believe the gap, the ambition and the person behind the proposal?

Many strong researchers lose points at this stage without understanding exactly why.

This 3.5-hour live lab is designed to change that.

Instead of listening to a lecture, you will work directly on your own ERC proposal with Dr. Nikolaos Floratos, a European Commission expert evaluator since 2003 who has coached ERC applicants for more than ten years.

You will work on the sentences, positioning, and evidence that influence the evaluator's first impression.

This is live editing and proposal development — not a theory session.

Is This Course for You?

A good fit if you are:

• A Consolidator Grant applicant with a B1 draft for the 12 January 2027 deadline
• An Advanced Grant applicant preparing for the 26 August 2027 deadline
• A Synergy Grant applicant who wants to establish the positioning before developing the full proposal
• A Starting Grant applicant preparing for the autumn 2027 call and using this period to strengthen your synopsis
• A research office supporting ERC applicants

Not the right fit if:

You do not yet have a research question or are unsure about your eligibility window.

In that case, the free webinar on 26 November is the better starting point.

What You Will Walk Away With

01 — Your Four Whys on One Page

Work through:

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

Write your answers during the session and test them from the perspective of an ERC panel member.

02 — The Risk-Novelty Sentence

Turn high gain and believable high risk into a clear positioning statement that communicates your ambition without making the project appear unrealistic.

03 — Track Record as Evidence

Rewrite your first track-record section as three evidence-based claims, each supported by concrete proof, adapted to Starting, Consolidator or Advanced Grant expectations.

04 — B1 Structure Checked Against the 2027 Criteria

Understand:

• What the Step 1 panel evaluates
• What moves to Step 2
• What belongs in B1
• What belongs in B2
• How the 2027 structure changes your drafting priorities

05 — The Scheme Decision Under the One-Proposal Rule

With one submission per work programme and restrictions on repeat applications, leave knowing which ERC scheme and which year makes strategic sense for you — and why.

06 — Free Pre-Submission Evaluation Booked

Your complete B1 and B2 proposal will receive an in-depth evaluation by the trainer, delivered up to 10 days before your official deadline.

How the 3.5 Hours Run

01 · 40 min — The 90-Second Read
Gap, "why now" and first result.

02 · 40 min — Risk & Novelty
The sentence that can influence ranking.

03 · 35 min — Track Record as Evidence
Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grant differences.

04 · 35 min — B1 Structure & 2027 Criteria
Including a responsible-AI self-check.

05 · 40 min — Peer Read
Two participants' openings scored live.

06 · 20 min — Final Checklist & Evaluation Booking
Your final actions and pre-submission evaluation arranged.

Included Bonuses

Your EUR 350 registration includes:

• One free in-depth evaluation of your complete proposal before submission
  Value: EUR 497
• Evaluation delivered up to 10 days before your official deadline
• Full recording of the lab, available for 30 days
• B1 checklist
• Exercise sheets
• Live workshop and practical feedback

Book My Seat — EUR 350

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

What You Will Not Get

No copy-paste template.
No promise of funding.
No ghost writing.

Your proposal remains your own work. The purpose of the lab is to challenge, strengthen and sharpen your proposal so that your ideas and track record are presented as convincingly as possible.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

We are confident in the quality of both the training and the evaluation feedback.

If you are not satisfied with the quality of the course or the evaluation feedback on your proposal, we will return your participation fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a finished B1?

No. A 2–5 page synopsis at first-draft level plus your CV is enough. Bring what you have.

Is the recording shared?

Yes. The recording is sent within 24 hours and remains available for 30 days. Your proposal draft is never shared with other participants.

What if I cannot attend on 3 December?

You will receive full access to the recording and training materials, plus access to a live Q&A session and your proposal evaluation.

You can also move your seat to the next cohort of the same lab at no additional fee.

What is the refund policy?

You can request a full refund up to 7 days before the event.

After that, you can transfer your place to the next cohort or to a colleague.

Questions?

Email: info@keyinnovations.eu