The Bilkent University Technology Transfer Office (TTO) hosted the “European Research Council (ERC) Grants Info Day and Experience Sharing Panel” on April 18, at the Bilkent Library Art Gallery. The event brought together researchers, faculty members and aspiring ERC grant applicants to gain valuable insights into the application process and hear firsthand experiences from ERC awardees and evaluators.
The morning began with a welcome from Bilkent TTO, setting the stage for an informative and engaging session. This was followed by a comprehensive presentation by Aslı Vural, the ERC National Contact Point (NCP) at TÜBİTAK, who detailed the essentials of ERC grant applications. Her session covered key aspects such as rules for participation, proposal structure and the latest updates from the ERC Work Programme, along with an in-depth look at the evaluation process.
Ms. Vural also provided strategic guidance for potential applicants, offering tips on crafting competitive proposals and highlighting TÜBİTAK’s dedicated support programs for ERC candidates. These include the “ERC Principal Investigator Development Program,” which features pre-evaluation support, mentoring initiatives and training opportunities.
The event continued with a round table panel titled “The ERC Journey: Experiences from Awarded Researchers and Evaluators.” Moderated by Bilkent TTO, the panel featured the following distinguished ERC grantees and an evaluator:
• Prof. Refet Gürkaynak—ERC Consolidator Grant (2016)
• Prof. Tolga Mete Duman—ERC Advanced Grant (2021)
• Asst. Prof. Erdinç Tatar—ERC Starting Grant (2023)
• Prof. Turgay Dalkara—ERC Advanced Grant Panelist
• Aslı Vural, TÜBİTAK NCP
Panelists shared personal insights on navigating the competitive ERC application process, the impact of their funded projects and tips for researchers aiming to apply. Their stories offered encouragement and inspiration, especially for early-career researchers preparing to embark on the ERC journey.
The event underscored Bilkent University’s ongoing commitment to supporting excellence in research and international collaboration. With growing interest in prestigious European funding opportunities, initiatives like the Info Day continue to empower Bilkent’s research community to compete on the global stage.