Horizon Europe - European Research Council (ERC)

Talented early-stage scientists, but also more experienced researchers with a ground-breaking research idea can participate. Besides personal grants, ERC also offers a grant form to enable pioneering interdisciplinary collaborations (Synergy Grant).

All fields of science are eligible for funding. Research funded by the ERC aims to push forward the frontiers of science. It sets a clear and inspirational target for frontier research. Renowned scientists and scholars evaluate the ERC proposals in peer review panels.

Budget and calls for proposals

The budget for ERC is € 16 billion for the period 2021-2027.

Conditions

ERC offers 4 types of frontier research grants:

• ERC Starting Grant

The budget for this grant is a maximum of € 1.5 million for 5 years.
For excellent researchers 2 to 7 years after their PhD, who want to start an independent research team or programme.

• ERC Consolidator Grant

The budget for this grant is a maximum of € 2 million for 5 years.
For excellent researchers 7 to 12 years after PhD, who want to consolidate their independent research team or programme.

• ERC Advanced Grant

The budget for this grant is a maximum of € 2.5 million for 5 years.
For established research leaders with a recognised track-record of research achievements.

• ERC Synergy Grant

The budget for this grant is a maximum of € 10 million for 6 years.
To address ambitious research questions that only the coordinated work of a small group of 2-4 principal investigators can answer.

For more information on the different subsidies and conditions, visit the ERC website. 

Find a suitable call

ERC publishes several calls for proposals throughout the year. Each type of grant has a deadline once a year. ERC announces the publication of the calls via the ERC website. Here you will find all relevant information on the calls.

In the Funding & Tender portal of the European Commission you can also find which calls are currently open and find all important documents with the rules for participation. You can also submit a proposal in this online portal.

We recommend watching the online ERC classes (YouTube) for more information on writing a good ERC application.

Stay informed

Would you like to be informed about the developments within ERC? Then sign up via our interest form to stay informed and receive invitations to events.