European Research Council
ERC Synergy Grant
Up to €10M for groups of 2–4 principal investigators tackling ambitious problems that need complementary expertise.
About the ERC Synergy Grant
The ERC Synergy Grant is the only ERC scheme that funds collaborative research, designed for exceptionally ambitious projects that cannot be accomplished by a single PI. Groups of 2 to 4 Principal Investigators combine their complementary skills, knowledge, and resources to tackle problems at the frontier of their fields. Funding goes up to €10 million over 6 years for the full group, with additional costs possible for equipment or access to major infrastructure. At least one of the PIs must meet the same eligibility criteria as an ERC Starting/Consolidator/Advanced applicant. The research must demonstrate genuine synergy — not parallel work streams stitched together, but tightly integrated research where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Success rates are very low (around 8%) and the bar for synergy is high.
Key facts
- Group size
- 2–4 PIs
- Duration
- 6 years
- Max budget
- €10M (+additional)
- Key requirement
- Genuine synergy between PIs
- Success rate
- ~8% overall
Who is eligible?
- •2 to 4 Principal Investigators, each independently excellent
- •At least one PI must be hosted in the EU or associated country; other PIs can be anywhere
- •Demonstrated synergy — complementary expertise that enables ground-breaking research impossible alone
- •Each PI at least 30% time commitment
Frequently asked questions
+How many Principal Investigators does a Synergy Grant need?
Between 2 and 4 PIs. Groups are typically 3, which balances complementarity with manageable coordination. 4-PI applications need to clearly justify why each participant is essential.
+Can all PIs be outside the EU?
At least one PI must be hosted at an institution in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country. Additional PIs can be anywhere in the world.
+What does "synergy" actually mean for the evaluation?
The proposal must demonstrate that the research can only be done with the combined expertise of the PIs — not parallel independent work. Reviewers look for intellectual complementarity, shared workplan, and deliverables that require cross-PI collaboration.
+How does the budget get split between PIs?
The group decides the split based on the research plan. There is no fixed allocation. The combined total cannot exceed €10M, and each PI's costs are itemised per host institution in the budget.
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