European Research Council (ERC) Launches Science Journalism Initiative
Funding will facilitate a new ERC award to support journalists wishing to spend time (approximately three to five months) at research institutions in order to better understand frontier research.
The European Research Council (ERC) has launched the Science Journalism Initiative to provide funding for journalists wishing to spend short stays of approximately three to five months embedded at research institutions in order to better understand frontier research.
The purpose is of the award is to provide journalists with opportunities to learn and work on in-depth reporting projects by immersing themselves in the research environment and interacting with scientists and scholars. Such opportunities should facilitate better understanding of frontier research, while respecting journalistic independence.
Through this coordination and support action opportunity, the ERC will support an organisation or a consortium of organisations to set up a funding scheme that would facilitate these stays.
The action is open to legal entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country.
A maximum of €1.5 million has been allocated to support this activity. The final amount to be paid must be justified on the basis of the costs incurred for the project, and it may be lower than the budget requested. Project costs will be reimbursed at a funding rate of 100% for direct costs, plus a flat-rate of 25% for indirect costs.
The call allows for financial support to third parties (FSTP). The applicants must clearly describe the objectives of the action and the expected results, as well as meet the specific conditions on the use of FSTP as set out in the Model Grant Agreement, among others conditions for submission, evaluation and selection of proposals of third parties.
The maximum duration of the project will be 48 months. One proposal will be selected.
Applications should be submitted via the Funding and Tenders Portal by the 15 December 2022 (17:00) deadline.