Local events - update on KRAB14 and plans for ERC day in Wrocław.

Hi, two things to write about:

1. KRAB - the national committee of EU grant coordinators (http://www.krab.edu.pl/)

I went to KRAB14 on Thursday and Friday ( http://krab14.syskonf.pl/) and wanted to tell you about it. The event was in Warsaw, and it was in Polish, so in the end only local members (me and Michał Karpiński) went there. I found out about it very last minute and realized that KRAB is a good organisation to collaborate with - practically, they are an excellent source for MCAA members for our Chapter, plus they represent the side of MSCA (or ERC) coordinators, partners and employers (whereas so far the majority of us are the employees and students). One day was devoted to ERC actions, and the second one to MSCA. I would recommend any of you to attend such meetings in the future (see one of them below) to learn from people who obtained and run EU grants. There were very useful tips on writing proposals, planning your career and collaborations. It was not focused on science (though there was some of it in the presentations of course), because the audience and speakers were from various fields, from humanities to engineering. There were also representatives from agencies such as KPK who gave an overview of the actions and grant calls. I have learned much about various types of MSCA other than my own call and I found a few putative members for our Chapter. I didn't know it before, but coordinators and partners of MSCA grants can also become MCAA members, including RISE and COFUND schemes (but they have to be individuals, not organisations). The organiser of KRAB14 also promised to put a note on the conference website about our Chapter. There was no funding for us to attend this event, but fortunately it was free of charge. The main MCAA office sent promotional materials (pens, leaflets, hats, pins) that mostly disappeared, so I think we might have gained some visibility ;)

2. ERC Day in Wrocław. http://www.ae-info.org/ae/Acad_Main/Events/ERC Day and http://akademia.wroc.pl/pl/?p=3130

This event is THIS MONDAY! and it's free, maybe our local MCAA members would like to attend? It will likely be similar to the first day of KRAB14, but at least it will be in ENGLISH, hurray. You might want to also get in touch with the local organisers/National Contact Point to talk about collaborations with us in future events of this type (and to let them know that they have local MSCA fellows, sometimes they need our participation in events - for example, it is obligatory to have MSCA fellows participating in EU-funded Researchers' Night).

Please let us know if you do attend :)

Best wishes

Maja (Maria)