Funding Schemes of the ERC

The ERC is providing four funding streams:

  • Starting Grants
    are designed for promising junior researchers who are at the stage of establishing an independent research team or an independent research programme 
  • Consolidator Grants
    are designed for promising researchers who are at the stage of consolidating an independent research team or an independent research programme
  • Advanced 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

In addition to that, the ERC offers the following funding option:

  • Proof of Concept
    provides funding for activities to be undertaken in terms of pre-commercial development, commercialization or marketing of an idea resulting from an ERC project

Calls for proposals will be published annually. From the Work Programme 2013, the deadlines are no longer organised according to the three scientific domains (Physical Sciences & Engineering, Life Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities). There will, thus, be only one deadline per call.

With the Work Programme 2013, the Starting Grant call will be divided into to seperate calls: Starting Grant and Consolidator Grant. Scientists from 7 to 12 years after their PhD are eligible to apply for the Consolidator Grants.

Overview on the calls planned for the Work Programme 2013:

Starting Grants

  • Publication on 10 July 2012
  • Deadline on 17 October 2012

Advanced Grants

  • Publication on 10 July 2012
  • Deadline on 22 November 2012

Synergy Grants

  • Publication on 10 October 2012
  • Deadline on 10 January 2013

Consolidator Grants

  • Publication on 7 November 2012
  • Deadline on 21 February 2013

Proof of Concept

  • Publication on 10 January 2013
  • cut-off dates on 24 April & 3 October 2013

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.

Starting Independent Researcher Grants
Starting Grants support promising researchers of any nationality who are at the beginning of an independent research career. more »
Advanced Investigator Grants
Advanced Grants support excellent and investigator-initiated research projects by leading advanced researchers of any nationality. more »
ERC Synergy Grants
The ERC Synergy Grants are aimed at outstanding researchers throughout Europe, who jointly work on an innovative research project. more »
ERC Proof of concept
This funding option targets ERC grant holders that want to bring their resulting research outcome to a commercial use. more »
work programme Ideas 2012 [en]
KoWi - Übersicht zu den ERC Grants [de]
Leaflet "Funding top research leaders for Europe" [en]