At KInIT we combine the excellent competencies of academic researchers and educators with innovative companies, their needs and experience. We aspire to conduct world-class research, cultivate talent for the future. The idea of the ERC grants fulfil our goals in delivering world-class, responsible research. 

We are looking for excellent researchers in any stage of career, who are preparing the ERC project proposal, or are looking for a Host institution (grant awarded).

The ERC‘s mission is to encourage the highest quality research in Europe through competitive funding and to support investigator-driven frontier research across all fields, on the basis of scientific excellence.

The ERC approach allows researchers to identify new opportunities and directions in any field of research, rather than being led by priorities set by politicians. This ensures that funds are channelled into new and promising areas of research with a greater degree of flexibility.

Four reasons why ERC at KInIT

1. Uniqueness

KInIT represents a world-class inspired approach to AI/ML research and education in Slovakia. We aim to motivate young people to build their careers in Slovakia, especially in research and knowledge transfer through innovation.

2. Elevate research

Research is a key tool for developing talent and catalyzing knowledge transfer and innovation. At KInIT we combine the primary research in domains that can bring innovation and competitive advantages to both local companies and the public sector with the applied research directly within the private and public sectors.

3. Collaboration with partners

By involving the private sector, we seek to create a healthy research ecosystem that is connected to existing universities, the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and above all to the international community with our partners through research projects.

4. Society transformation

We encourage responsible innovation, expand knowledge, develop talent, and improve Slovakia’s competitiveness in cooperation with the private and public sectors. As an independent institute, KInIT aspires to articulate problems of today’s and next-gen Slovakia, and support decision-making based on scientific arguments.

How can we support your effort?

For the grant applicant candidate we will provide support in administrative and financial issues of the application, including a consultation with successful candidates and ERC advisor, a Host Support Letter. We will also provide support in the proposal writing stage, to maximize the potential of the successful application.

For the on-going ERC grant investigators we will offer long-term research positions (according to the applicant career stage). We will also offer a capacity of the well established research team. We will provide support for the project management covered by our Project office. Our institute offers attractive career development opportunities.

Contact us

Jan Tkac

“I am really glad that the main aim of the KInIT is to create excellent conditions for young and talented people to perform research in Slovakia. What is encouraging from my point of view is the fact that the Institute focuses on artificial intelligence, which has strong application potential in many different fields providing solutions to socio-economic challenges we are facing. This is why I support such an initiative. Fingers crossed!”

Ján Tkáč

Holder of two ERC grants

About ERC

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ERC in a nutshell

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The ERC aims to:

  • Support the best of the best in Europe across all fields of science, scholarship and engineering
  • Promote wholly investigator-driven, or ‘bottom-up’ frontier research
  • Encourage the work of the established and next generation of independent top research leaders in Europe
  • Reward innovative proposals by placing emphasis on the quality of the idea rather than the research area
  • Raise the status and visibility of European frontier research and the very best researchers of today and tomorrow
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Who is eligible?

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Researchers of any nationality with PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal or exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions.

Applications can be made in any field of research.

Scientific “seniority” depends on the specific type of ERC grant.

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What can be founded?

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An ERC grant can cover up to 100% of the total eligible direct costs of the research plus a contribution of 25% of the total eligible costs towards indirect costs.

ERC grants support projects carried out by an individual researcher who can employ researchers of any nationality as team members. It is also possible to have one or more team members located in a non-European country.

An additional € 1 million to the Grant can be made available to cover eligible “start-up” costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU member state or an associated country and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities and/or other major experimental and field work costs.

An ERC grant can cover up to 100% of the total eligible direct costs of the research plus a contribution of 25% of the total eligible costs towards indirect costs.

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Position at KInIT

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Starting

ERC Starting grants are designed to support outstanding researchers of any nationality who are starting to develop an independent career and intend to establish their own research team or programme in Europe.

The ERC Starting grant supports young researchers making the transition from working under a supervisor to becoming independent researchers. Investment in research careers right from the beginning will foster the next generation of research leaders in Europe. 

Candidate requirements:

  • 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD
  • a scientific track record showing great promise
  • a ground-breaking research proposal

Consolidator/Advanced

ERC Consolidator grants are designed to support researchers of any nationality at the stage of consolidating their own research team or programme. This grant scheme will strengthen recently created independent and excellent research teams.

ERC Advanced grants provide an opportunity to well established and outstanding scientists of any nationality to pursue innovative, high-risk research that opens new directions in a field of their choice.

This grant offers researchers a unique opportunity to consolidate their position. The ERC supports frontier research that opens new directions and breakthroughs and encourages unconventional approaches and investigations at the interface between disciplines.

Types of grants

ERC Starting Grant

Who? For promising early-career researchers with 2 to 7 years experience after PhD
Grants up to 1.5€ million
Duration: up to 5 years
Deadline: October 2023 (estimate based on the previous call, not announced yet)

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Researchers of any nationality with 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD (Extensions are possible under certain circumstances — see the latest ERC Work Programme), a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal

More info on ERC Europa

ERC Consolidator Grant

Who? For excellent researchers with 7 to 12 years experience after PhD
Grants up to 2€ million
Duration: up to 5 years
Deadline: 02 February 2023

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Researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD (Extensions are possible under certain circumstances — see the latest ERC Work Programme), a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal.

More info on ERC Europa

ERC Advanced Grant

Who? For established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements
Duration: up to 5 years
Grants up to 2.5€ million
Deadline: 23 May 2023

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Applicants for the ERC Advanced Grants – called Principal Investigators (PI) – are expected to be active researchers who have a track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years.

The Principal Investigators should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions. No specific eligibility criteria with respect to the academic requirements are foreseen.

More info on ERC Europa

ERC Synergy grants

Who?A group of two to maximum four principal investigators working together and bringing different skills and resources to tackle ambitious research problems.
Grants up to 10€ million
Duration:
up to 6 years
Deadline: Will be announced

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No specific eligibility criteria regarding the academic training are foreseen for ERC Synergy Grants. Principal Investigators must present an early achievement track-record or a ten-year track-record, whichever is most appropriate.

In the case of the ERC Synergy Grants, applications must demonstrate that the proposed research cannot be carried out by a single PI working alone.

More info on ERC Europa

mb_vyrez

“KInIT combines the best elements of the academic and private sectors. We aspire to conduct world-class research, cultivate talent and prepare our economy for the future.”

Mária Bieliková

KInIT professor and CEO