ERC Synergy Grants support small groups of researchers who want to combine their expertise, knowledge and resources to tackle ambitious research problems.
They are part of the European Research Council (external link) funding scheme under Horizon Europe and are designed to support frontier research that cannot be carried out by one Principal Investigator working alone.
Overview
Synergy Grants are for 2 to 4 Principal Investigators who want to work together on a highly ambitious research project.
They support projects where the combined expertise of the Principal Investigators creates new possibilities, approaches or breakthroughs that would not be possible through individual research projects alone.
Funding is available for projects in any field of research. ERC grants are bottom-up, which means there are no set themes or predetermined research priorities.
Applications are assessed on excellence. This applies to both the proposed research project and the Principal Investigators.
Who this is for
ERC Synergy Grants are for groups of 2 to 4 researchers who:
- want to combine skills, knowledge and resources
- are tackling a major research challenge
- can show that working together will create added value
- have complementary expertise
- want to carry out an ambitious frontier research project
- have an excellent and ground-breaking research proposal
Researchers of any nationality can apply.
One Principal Investigator can be based outside the EU or a Horizon Europe associated country, as long as this is justified by the scientific aims of the project. The other Principal Investigators must be hosted by organisations in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country.
What this could help you do
An ERC Synergy Grant could help you:
- bring together 2 to 4 Principal Investigators around one ambitious research challenge
- combine different disciplines, methods, skills or resources
- carry out frontier research that needs a team of research leaders
- develop new approaches that would not be possible through a single Principal Investigator project
- recruit researchers and team members
- access major equipment, facilities or fieldwork support where needed
- carry out research across host institutions in the UK, EU or another Horizon Europe associated country
What you can get
Synergy Grants can provide up to €10 million for up to 6 years.
Additional funding of up to €4 million may be available in total for eligible costs such as:
- start-up costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU or an associated country
- major equipment
- access to large facilities
- major experimental work
- fieldwork costs
ERC grants can cover up to 100% of eligible direct research costs, plus a contribution towards indirect costs.
What proposals are eligible
Applications can be made in any field of research.
A Synergy Grant proposal must involve 2 to 4 Principal Investigators. Each Principal Investigator must be able to show that their contribution is essential to the project.
The Principal Investigators are usually hosted by public or private research organisations, known as host institutions. Host institutions must normally be based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country.
One Principal Investigator may be hosted by an organisation outside the EU or associated countries, where this is scientifically justified.
The application is submitted by one corresponding Principal Investigator on behalf of the group. The host institutions must provide suitable conditions for the Principal Investigators to lead the project and manage the funding independently.
Teams and partners
ERC Synergy Grants are led by 2 to 4 Principal Investigators.
Each Principal Investigator can recruit team members of any nationality. Team members may also be based outside Europe, depending on the needs of the project.
Vacancies for team members interested in joining an ERC-funded research project can be published on the Euraxess Jobs portal.
Synergy Grants are different from standard Horizon Europe consortium projects. They are focused on a small group of Principal Investigators working together on one ambitious frontier research project.
Funding in practice
Developing new approaches to genetic disorders
The 3Stops2Go project brings together four researchers at four institutions to investigate genetic mutations responsible for a significant proportion of genetic diseases. By combining expertise from different disciplines, the researchers aim to better understand genetic decoding and develop new tools that could ultimately contribute to treatments for genetic disorders.
View the 3Stops2Go project example on the ERC website
Next steps and support
- Find out if you are eligible to apply, read about Synergy Grants and what the funding covers by visiting the ERC website.
- Read about the financial support available in the current Work Programme (PDF) to see if this is right for you.
- Look at their website and read what the ERC has funded in the past and consider whether your project fits the scale and ambition of an ERC grant.
- Familiarise yourself with the ERC panels so you can select the most appropriate one. All research areas are eligible.
- Identify the Principal Investigators involved in the proposal and agree the role of the corresponding Principal Investigator.
- Speak to your host institutions as early as possible.
- Contact the NCP for ERC with questions and support on any of the above.
Find current ERC Synergy Grant calls
Open and upcoming Synergy Grant calls, official call documents and submission deadlines are listed on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
There are currently no open Synergy Grant calls.
Find the latest ERC Synergy Grant calls on the EU Funding and Tenders portal
Registering for EU Login and a PIC
To apply for funding through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, you need an EU Login account. If you do not already have one, register for an EU Login account on the EU Funding and Tenders portal.
Your organisation also needs a Participant Identification Code (PIC) to be included as a participant in a funding application and to manage the grant if the application is successful. If your organisation does not yet have one, find out how to register your organisation and get a PIC on the EU Funding and Tenders portal.
Last updated: 29 October 2026