The Bilkent University Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and the Middle East Technical University (METU) Project Development Office (PDO) successfully co-hosted “Navigating ERC Funding: Insights for Researchers” at the Bilkent UNAM Conference Hall on June 9, 2026.
The European Research Council (ERC) stands as the premier tier of frontier research funding in Europe. To support our research community in navigating this highly competitive landscape, the event focused heavily on strategic alignment. Specifically, insights were explored on how groundbreaking scientific concepts can be effectively translated into proposals that meet the rigorous standards of ERC evaluation panels.
The event featured a comprehensive program delivered by distinguished experts and grant recipients:
• Ms. Aslı VURAL (ERC National Contact Point, TÜBİTAK) delivered an essential briefing on ERC funding schemes, structural frameworks, and recent policy updates.
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Efe TOKDEMİR (Bilkent University, ERC 2025 Consolidator Grant Holder) shared his personal application journey alongside comprehensive reflections on navigating the evaluation process within the Social Sciences and Humanities (SH2) panel.
• Prof. Dr. Mustafa YÜCEL (METU Institute of Marine Sciences, ERC 2021 Consolidator Grant Holder & ERC Ambassador) shared his personal journey within the Physical Sciences and Engineering (PE10) domain, while highlighting the objectives of the newly established ERC Ambassadors Network.
The event concluded with “Beyond the Grant: ERC Conversations”, an open discussion that brought together grant holders, TÜBİTAK, and institutional specialists. In addition to analyzing the structural frameworks of the funding scheme itself, the session addressed the essential operational, administrative, and legal compliance mechanisms required across the entire project lifecycle.