ERC

Consolidator Grant

Up to €2M + up to €1M additional eligible costs (up to €2M additional for PIs relocating from non-associated third countries)Up to 5 years

Yearly calls; see EU Funding & Tenders Portal for current open call deadline

Last verified: 29 July 2026

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This is the current call of the ERC Consolidator Grant programme. The programme guide covers eligibility, budget, success rate and FAQ across every round.

The ERC Consolidator Grant funds researchers 7-12 years post-PhD to conduct independent, ambitious research projects in any field across Europe, with grants of up to €2 million over five years. The call is open to any nationality, provided the host institution is in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country. Additional funding is available for equipment, facilities, or relocation from non-associated third countries.

Details

Funder	ERC
Budget	Up to €2M + up to €1M additional eligible costs (up to €2M additional for PIs relocating from non-associated third countries)
Duration	Up to 5 years
Consortium	No
Application	Single stage: full proposal submission via EU Funding & Tenders Portal
Frequency	Annual
Next round	2026-01

Eligibility & scope

Open to researchers of any nationality with 5–15 years post-PhD experience (extendable for parental leave, illness, etc.). Host institution must be a public or private research organisation in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country. Single PI applies; any field of research; bottom-up, no predetermined priorities.

Who Should Apply

•Researchers 7-12 years past their PhD (with allowed extensions for parental leave or illness)
•Any nationality, hosted at an institution in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country
•Researchers seeking to consolidate their independence and establish or strengthen a research group
•Any field of research; bottom-up, investigator-driven projects eligible
•PIs relocating from non-associated third countries (eligible for up to €4M total funding)

Key Dates

•2026 call is open; check EU Funding & Tenders Portal for the exact closing date
•Single-stage evaluation, with ethics review following selection
•Five-year project duration

Tips for Applicants

✓ERC CoGs are highly competitive; clarity on ambition and feasibility is critical, use data, preliminary results, and risk mitigation explicitly.
✓Demonstrate a clear step forward from your postdoctoral or early-independent work; reviewers expect evidence of productivity and research leadership.
✓Additional funding (equipment, facilities, third-country relocation) must be justified within the main proposal narrative, not as an afterthought.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the ERC Consolidator Grant pay?

Up to €2 million over five years; additional funding of up to €1 million is available for equipment and facilities, and up to €2 million extra is available for PIs relocating from non-associated third countries.

Who is eligible for the ERC Consolidator Grant?

Researchers 7-12 years post-PhD (with allowed extensions for parental leave or illness) of any nationality, hosted at an institution in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country.

How is the ERC Consolidator Grant evaluated?

Single-stage written evaluation by peer review panels; ethics review follows the selection decision.

Can I apply for the ERC Consolidator Grant if I'm relocating from outside Europe?

Yes; PIs relocating from non-associated third countries are eligible and can access up to €4 million in total funding.

ercconsolidator-grantmid-careerindependent-researcheurope-widehorizon-europefundamental-research

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