ERC

Starting Grant

Up to €1.5M + up to €1M additional eligible costs (up to €2M for PIs relocating from non-associated third countries)Up to 5 years

See current call on EU Funding & Tenders Portal; annual calls published on erc.europa.eu

Last verified: 5 July 2026

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

The ERC Starting Grant funds researchers 2-7 years post-PhD to establish independent research groups anywhere in Europe, with up to €1.5 million over five years (up to €2.5 million if relocating from outside the EU). The grant is open to any nationality and any field of research, with a single-PI model requiring no consortium partners. ERC runs this call annually.

Details

Funder	ERC
Budget	Up to €1.5M + up to €1M additional eligible costs (up to €2M for PIs relocating from non-associated third countries)
Duration	Up to 5 years
Consortium	No
Application	Single stage; ethics review follows selection
Frequency	Annual
Career stage	Early-career opportunity

Eligibility & scope

Open to researchers of any nationality with 2–7 years post-PhD experience (extensions possible 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 eligible. Proposals submitted via EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Who Should Apply

•Researchers 2-7 years past their PhD (timeline flexible for parental leave or illness)
•Any nationality, hosted at a public or private research organisation in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country
•Researchers working in any field of research
•Early-stage scientists ready to lead their own independent research programme

Key Dates

•Annual deadline: check EU Funding & Tenders Portal for exact 2026 closing date
•Single-stage submission of full proposal
•Up to five-year project duration

Tips for Applicants

✓The bottom-up, open-ended nature means clarity on your independence from your PhD/postdoc supervisor is critical, reviewers explicitly assess this.
✓Budget justification matters: reviewers evaluate ambition against feasibility, so spell out resource needs and risk mitigation for your proposed scope.
✓Interview stage is absent here (single-stage evaluation); your proposal must stand on its written merit, invest heavily in the narrative coherence and technical detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the ERC Starting Grant pay?

Up to €1.5 million over five years; researchers relocating from outside the EU may receive up to €2.5 million.

Who is eligible for the ERC Starting Grant?

Researchers 2-7 years past their PhD (with possible extensions for parental leave or illness), of any nationality, hosted at a public or private research organisation in an EU Member State or associated country.

Do I need a consortium or co-investigators for the ERC Starting Grant?

No, the ERC Starting Grant is a single-PI scheme, you lead independently, though you may employ team members.

Is the ERC Starting Grant recurring?

Yes, ERC runs the Starting Grant call annually; check the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for the exact closing date each year.

erchorizon-europeearly-careerstarting-grantindependent-researchbottom-up

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