Pillar 1: European Research Council

Funding for ambitious frontier research across all disciplines, from early-career researchers to established research leaders.

The European Research Council (ERC) is part of Horizon Europe’s Pillar 1: Excellent Science, alongside Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Research Infrastructures.

ERC funding supports investigator-led frontier research across all fields. Researchers can apply with ambitious, high-risk ideas that have the potential to make a major scientific contribution.

ERC Work Programme 2027

The ERC represents 17% of the overall Horizon Europe budget, i.e. € 16 billion (2021-2027) with the calls being run annually.

Further information on the 2027 ERC Work Programme can be found on their website. This provides details of funding opportunities, including call topics, eligibility requirements and information on how to apply.

What the ERC funds

ERC grants support excellent researchers at different stages of their careers.

Funding is awarded through open competition to researchers of any nationality who are working in, or moving to, Europe. Applications can be made in any field of research and are assessed on scientific excellence.

ERC grants can help researchers:

• establish or develop their own research team
• consolidate their independence
• pursue ambitious frontier research
• collaborate with other leading researchers
• explore the innovation potential of ERC-funded research

Find out more about ERC grant routes

Choose the ERC grant route that best matches your career stage, research idea or funding need.

ERC Starting Grants

Support for talented early-career researchers ready to lead their own independent research project or team

ERC Consolidator Grants

Support for mid-career researchers who are consolidating their independent research and building their team

ERC Advanced Grants

Support for established research leaders with a strong track record who want to pursue an ambitious frontier research project

ERC Synergy Grants

Support for small groups of 2 to 4 researchers combining expertise to tackle ambitious frontier research problems

ERC Proof of Concept Grants

Funding for ERC grant holders to explore the innovation potential of ideas arising from their ERC-funded frontier research

ERC Plus Grants

Support for outstanding researchers with bold ideas and a vision for transformative research beyond existing ERC programmes

Additional opportunities

The ERC lists on their website other opportunities linked to their funding. These may be useful if you are not ready to apply for an ERC grant, are looking for a role in an ERC-funded team, or want to build experience in frontier research.

Jobs in ERC teams

ERC Principal Investigators (PIs) can use their grant to recruit researchers and team members for their projects. If you are interested in applying for one of these jobs, search on the EURAXESS portal using the ERC as a keyword. ERC jobs may also be advertised on other websites and journals.

If you find a job that interests you, apply directly to the PI and their host institution, using this link for the EURAXESS website.

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