ERC funding scheme open to excellent mid-career researchers of any nationality who wish to carry out frontier research, in any field or subject, in EU Member States or associated countries.
The European Research Council (ERC) was founded in 2007 and is the European Commission’s leading funding organisation for supporting investigator-driven, frontier research. The ERC runs five main grant programmes to support projects and investigators at progressive stages of development: Starting Grants, Proof of Concept Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants, and Synergy Grants.
The ERC is now accepting applications for Consolidator Grants. Funding is available for projects lasting up to five years that will lead to advances at the frontiers of knowledge and set a clear and inspirational target for frontier research across Europe. Applications may be made in any field of research; the sole criteria for projects is scientific excellence. Proposals that cross disciplinary boundaries, pioneering ideas that address new and emerging fields and applications that introduce unconventional, innovative approaches are particularly encouraged.
Eligible investigators should have been awarded their first PhD more than seven and less than twelve years prior to the Call for Proposals. Investigators must have already shown research independence and evidence of maturity, such as by having produced several important publications without the participation of their PhD supervisor.
Applicant Principal Investigators (PIs) should also be able to demonstrate a promising track record of early achievements appropriate to their research field and career stage, including significant publications (as main author) in major international peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journals, or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals of their respective field. They may also demonstrate a record of invited presentations in well-established international conferences, granted patents, awards, prizes etc.
PIs of any age and nationality may apply to carry out research in a host institution established in an EU Member State or Associated Country. The researcher may be residing in any country in the world at the time of application, but the host institution must be in an EU Member state or Associated Country. PIs must intend to spend at least 40% of their working time on the ERC project and at least 50% of their time in an EU Member State or Associated Country.
While there are currently no countries officially associated to Horizon Europe, applicants established in Horizon 2020 Associated Countries, or in other third countries negotiating association to Horizon Europe, including the United Kingdom, are eligible to apply on a conditional basis and will be eligible to receive funding provided that an association agreement is signed by the applicant’s country at the time of signature of the grant agreement.
Applicants may request up to a maximum of €2 million for a period of five years, in addition to a maximum of €1 million in additional start-up costs to move country, purchase major equipment or access large facilities.
Applications should be submitted by the 20 April 2021 deadline.
