The ERC is providing three funding streams:
- Starting Independent Researcher Grants
are designed for promising young researchers who are at the stage of establishing an independent research team or an independent research programme
- Advanced Investigator Grants
are aimed at excellent research leaders who are already well established in their respective field of research
- Synergy Grants
are designed for research groups of two to four outstanding researchers and their teams
Calls for proposals will be published annually for both grant schemes. The ERC has established "rolling deadlines" according to the three scientific domains (Physical Sciences & Engineering, Life Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities).
The ERC Starting Grant call will be published each summer - with "rolling deadlines" during autumn/winter of the same calendar year.
The ERC Advanced Grant call will be published each autumn/winter - with "rolling deadlines" during the first quarter of the following calendar year.
The first ERC Synergy Grant call will be published in autumn with a single deadline in January.
ERC grants cover up to 100% of the direct research costs (related to staff, equipment, consumables, and travel) plus a 20% contribution of the total direct costs (excluding subcontracts) towards overheads.