ERC

Consolidator Grant

Up to €2M + up to €1M (or €2M for relocation) additional costs5 years

Call ERC-2026-CoG open; check EU Funding & Tenders Portal for exact closing date

Last updated: 6 Sept 2026

No deadline is on file for this call. Check ERC's own call page for the current round's status before you plan around it.

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This call page belongs to 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 (or €2M for relocation) additional costs
Duration	5 years
Consortium	No - single Principal Investigator applies via host institution
Application	Single stage
Frequency	Annual
Next round	2027-01

Eligibility & scope

Open to researchers with 5-15 years of experience since PhD completion, any field, any nationality. Research must be hosted at a public or private research organisation in an EU Member State or Associated Country.

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
•Two-step evaluation with a panel interview at Step 2; ethics review follows 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?

In two steps. Panels review Part B1 at Step 1; shortlisted applicants go to Step 2 for assessment of the full proposal and a panel interview. 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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