European Research Council
ERC Proof of Concept
€150,000 top-up for existing ERC grant holders to explore the commercial or societal potential of their research.
About the ERC Proof of Concept
The ERC Proof of Concept (PoC) is a supplementary grant available only to researchers who currently hold or recently held a main ERC grant (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, or Synergy). It provides a lump sum of €150,000 to bridge the gap between frontier research and early-stage application — for example, to explore commercial viability, develop a prototype, run initial clinical validation, or refine a technology for transfer. PoC projects last up to 18 months. They are evaluated on excellence, impact (commercial or societal), and implementation quality. Unlike main ERC grants, the PoC does not fund fundamental research; its purpose is to de-risk the path from an ERC discovery to real-world application. Multiple PoCs can be held in sequence by the same ERC grantee, addressing different application angles of the underlying research.
Key facts
- Budget
- €150,000 fixed
- Duration
- Up to 18 months
- Eligibility
- Current or recent ERC grantee
- Multiple awards
- Yes, per ERC grant
- Success rate
- 30–40% (much higher than main ERC calls)
Who is eligible?
- •Must currently hold, or have held within the last 12 months, a main ERC grant (StG/CoG/AdG/SyG)
- •Project must build on ideas or results from the underlying ERC grant
- •Hosted at a research institution in an EU Member State or associated country
Frequently asked questions
+Do I need an active ERC grant to apply for a PoC?
You need to currently hold an active main ERC grant, or have held one that ended within the last 12 months at the call deadline. Researchers who never held an ERC grant cannot apply.
+Can I hold multiple Proof of Concept grants?
Yes. The same ERC grantee can receive multiple PoCs — typically one per application angle. Each PoC builds on the underlying ERC research but addresses a different translation pathway.
+Is the €150,000 a lump sum or reimbursement-based?
It is a lump sum paid in instalments against milestones. You do not need to itemise individual cost categories; you do need to deliver against the stated objectives.
+Can PoC funds be used to hire a postdoc?
Yes, personnel costs are allowed, but the 18-month timeline and €150K budget usually means short-term or part-time appointments rather than a full postdoc hire.
Looking for proposal-writing advice?
Read the European Research Council writing guide →Related programmes
European Research Council
ERC Starting Grant
Up to €1.5M for early-career researchers 2–7 years post-PhD conducting ground-breaking frontier research.
European Research Council
ERC Consolidator Grant
Up to €2M for mid-career researchers 7–12 years post-PhD consolidating their independent research team.
European Research Council
ERC Advanced Grant
Up to €2.5M for established research leaders with a 10-year track record of significant achievements.
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