ERC
European Research Council
The ERC funds frontier research across all fields. Three main grant types: Starting Grants (2-7 years post-PhD), Consolidator Grants (7-12 years), and Advanced Grants (established leaders).
Evaluation Criteria
- 1Scientific excellence of the research project (ground-breaking nature, ambition, feasibility)
- 2Scientific excellence of the PI (track record, intellectual capacity, creativity)
- 3For StG/CoG: potential to become an independent research leader
- 4For AdG: demonstrated ability to lead and attract top researchers
Proposal Structure
- •Part B1 (10 pages): Extended synopsis — scientific proposal, methodology, work plan, timeline
- •Part B2 (5 pages): CV, track record, publications (up to 10), funding history
- •Since 2024: Two-stage evaluation for Starting Grants (synopsis → full proposal)
- •Budget justification: personnel, equipment, consumables, travel, other
Common Mistakes
- ×Being incremental rather than truly ground-breaking — ERC wants paradigm shifts
- ×Underestimating the importance of the B2 track record section
- ×Too many work packages — keep it focused and ambitious
- ×Not demonstrating independence from PhD/postdoc supervisor's work
- ×Generic methodology — be specific about your unique approach
Success Tips
- ✓Highlight what makes YOUR approach different from existing work
- ✓Start with a compelling opening — evaluators read hundreds of proposals
- ✓Show preliminary data that demonstrates feasibility without solving the whole problem
- ✓Publications in top journals matter — quality over quantity
- ✓Budget should be ambitious but justified. Under-requesting signals lack of ambition
Frequently Asked Questions
+Who is eligible for an ERC Starting Grant?
Researchers 2 to 7 years post-PhD (with possible extensions for career breaks) who propose ground-breaking research. You must be hosted at a legal entity in an EU Member State or associated country. There is no nationality requirement.
+How much funding does an ERC Starting Grant provide?
Up to €1.5 million for 5 years, with an additional €1 million available for eligible start-up costs, equipment, access to large facilities, or fieldwork. The Consolidator Grant goes up to €2M and the Advanced Grant up to €2.5M.
+What is the difference between ERC Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants?
Starting Grant targets researchers 2–7 years post-PhD, Consolidator Grant targets 7–12 years post-PhD, and Advanced Grant is for established research leaders with a track record of significant research achievements over the last 10 years.
+What is the ERC Starting Grant success rate?
ERC Starting Grant success rates typically range from 10% to 15%, varying by panel and year. Recent calls have hovered around 12–13% overall success across life sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences panels.
+How long does ERC evaluation take?
Approximately 9–11 months from the call deadline to the final funding decision. Stage 1 (panel review) results arrive ~4–5 months after submission; Stage 2 interviews take place ~7–9 months after submission.
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