ERC

Starting Grant

Up to €1.5M + up to €1M additional eligible costs (up to €2M for PIs relocating from non-associated third countries)| Deadline: 14 October 2026 (77 days)|Up to 5 years

ERC-2027-STG call open; see EU Funding & Tenders Portal for exact deadline

Last verified: 29 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 early-career researchers with 2-12 years of post-PhD experience to establish independent research groups across Europe, with up to €1.5 million over five years (up to €2 million for researchers relocating from outside Horizon Europe associated countries). Open to any nationality and any field of research, the call supports bottom-up, single-PI projects at public or private research organisations in EU Member States or associated countries. ERC runs this programme 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)
Deadline	14 October 2026
Duration	Up to 5 years
Consortium	No
Application	Single stage
Frequency	Annual
Next round	2027-01
Career stage	Early-career opportunity

Eligibility & scope

Open to researchers of any nationality, 0–10 years post-PhD (extensions possible for parental leave, illness, etc.), proposing frontier research in any field. Host institution must be a public or private research organisation in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country. Single PI applies; no consortium required.

Who Should Apply

•Researchers 2-12 years post-PhD, with possible extensions 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
•All fields of research eligible
•Single-PI projects with a clear vision of independence from previous mentors

Key Dates

•Deadline: 14 October 2026
•Single-stage written evaluation
•5-year project duration

Tips for Applicants

✓Relocating from a non-associated third country? You may be eligible for up to €2M in funding; make this explicit in the proposal context.
✓Reviewers assess independence from your PhD/postdoc supervisor carefully, distinguish your research agenda clearly.
✓The proposal must demonstrate feasibility and risk mitigation alongside ambition; vague high-impact claims without implementation detail score poorly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I get from an ERC Starting Grant?

Up to €1.5 million over five years; up to €2 million if you are relocating from a non-associated third country.

What is the post-PhD eligibility window for the ERC Starting Grant?

2-12 years post-PhD, with possible extensions for parental leave, illness, or other qualifying absences.

Can I apply for an ERC Starting Grant if I am not from an EU country?

Yes, any nationality is eligible, provided your host institution is in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country.

Is the ERC Starting Grant single-stage or multi-stage?

Single-stage written evaluation, meaning all proposals go through peer review without a pre-proposal round.

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