Purpose and objectives
The fundamental activity of the European Research Council (ERC) is to provide attractive, long-term funding to support excellent investigators and their research teams to pursue ground-breaking, high-gain/high-risk research. Research funded by the ERC is expected to lead to advances at the frontiers of knowledge and to set a clear and inspirational target for frontier research across Europe. The ERC is part of the Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation.
Who can apply?
Individual Principal Investigators from anywhere in the world can apply for an ERC grant. The host institution must be established in a Member State or Associated Country. However, the team members of any Principal Investigator may be based outside of the EU or an Associated Country.
What to apply for?
There are different types of funding, depending on the stage of career, that a Principal Investigator can apply for:
Starting Grant
Support for excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they are starting their own independent research team or programme. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal. The maximum amount is up to 1.5 million euros for a period of five years. Additional funding is possible up to 1 million euros.
Consolidator Grant
Support for excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they may still be consolidating their own independent research team or programme. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal. The maximum amount is up to 2 million euros for a period of five years. Additional funding is possible up to 1 million euros.
Advanced Grant
Support for excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they are already established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal. The maximum amount is up to 2.5 million euros for a period of five years. Additional funding is possible up to 1 million euros.
Proof of Concept Grant
Support for excellent Principal Investigators whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research and now want to explore the commercial or societal potential of their work. The financial contribution will be awarded as a lump sum of 150,000 euros for a period of eighteen months.
Synergy Grant
Support for a small group of two to four Principal Investigators to jointly address ambitious research problems that could not be addressed by the individual Principal Investigators and their teams working alone. The maximum amount is up to 10 million euros for a period of six years. Additional funding is possible up to 4 million euros.
Want to know more?
Are you a Principal Investigator and do you have a ground-breaking idea or project plan? Contact our specialists at +31 (0)88 838 13 81 or send us a message:
