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FAQ

These FAQ about the funding schemes of the ERC are a result of KoWi’s daily consulting conversations.

The catalogue of questions is being edited and extended on a regular basis.

General information
  • What kind of research can be funded? more »
  • Who can apply for a Starting Grant? more »
  • Who could be a competitive candidate for the ERC Starting Grants? more »
  • How many Starting Grants will be awarded per year? more »
  • What are the success rates when applying for a Starting Grant? more »
  • Which time-commitment of the Principal Investigator is foreseen for the ERC Starting Grant scheme? more »
  • How many times can I apply for an ERC Starting Grant/which rules apply to reapplications for ERC Starting Grants? more »
  • Where can I find information on funded ERC-projects? more »
Preparation phase
  • How do I know whether I qualify as an applicant? more »
  • Can the team include members who do not have a PhD-degree like technicians or PhD-students? more »
  • Can team members from other research facilities be incorporated into a research team? more »
  • What should be considered concerning the composition of the team, in particular as regards mobility, status, etc.? more »
  • Is there any preferred size of the research team? more »
  • Which institutions can host an ERC Starting Grant research group? more »
  • "Habilitation" is a scientific degree awarded to formally acknowledge the achievement of research independence. Are holders of this degree eligible to apply for an ERC Starting Grant if they are within the eligibility window of 2-12 years after the PhD award? more »
  • What is needed to document parental leave? more »
  • Are medical doctorates (German Dr. med-degree) sufficient to submit an eligible proposal? more »
  • Is there any age limit for Starting Grant applicants? more »
  • Is mobility required for an application? more »
  • Can the Principal Investigator be employed by the hosting institution at the time when the proposal is submitted? more »
  • Which date is relevant regarding the award of the PhD? more »
  • I have been awarded a professorship (W2/W3 or equivalent position). Can I still apply for a Starting Grant? more »
  • Can a team member already be employed by the hosting organisation at the time of the proposal? more »
  • Which evaluation panel is concerned with interdisciplinary research projects? more »
Application
  • Which language is required for the application? more »
  • Is it necessary for the team members to be identified at the proposal stage? more »
  • Do applicants need to submit a confirmation of the hosting organisation by the time of the proposal submission? more »
  • How can I apply for an ERC Starting Grant? more »
  • Who applies for a Starting Grant: the Principal Investigator or the hosting organisation? more »
  • What should the hosting institution provide to the project? more »
  • What is the Participant Identification Code (PIC)? more »
  • How strict are the page limits defined for each section and is there a suggested font template? more »
  • Should I include additional references or a reference to a personal website in my proposal? more »
  • Does it have any advantages to apply for less than the maximum amount of funding of EUR 1.5 million? more »
Evaluation procedure
  • Is it up to the PI to choose an appropriate evaluation panel? more »
  • How does the Principal Investigator choose the right evaluation panel? more »
  • Who is evaluating the proposals? more »
  • How are the proposals evaluated? more »
  • What is meant by the interview during step 2 of the evaluation? more »
  • What kind of feedback is provided to the applicants? more »
  • Does the ERC publish the names of the reviewers? more »
  • How long does the evaluation process take? When can the project start? more »
  • Is there a possibility to exclude reviewers? more »
Financial and contractual aspects
  • Is it possible to transfer the grant to a new hosting institution? more »
  • How can the ERC funding be used? more »
  • Who is negotiating the Grant Agreement with the ERC? more »
  • What are the obligations of the Principal Investigator regarding the implementation of the project? more »
  • Can the grant cover the Principal Investigator’s own salary? more »
  • My position is not financed by the ERC-grant. Do I still have to provide evidence of my working hours for the project? more »
  • In my proposal I stated that I would spend 100% of my working time on the ERC-project. Due to other activities I have to reduce the amount of working time now. Is that possible? more »
  • Can members of the research team be dispatched to other facilities for research purposes? more »
  • During my project visiting senior researchers will join our institute for a short period of time in order to contribute their expertise to the project. Does the ERC finance the costs for these stays (salary, travel costs etc.)? If yes, to which category do these costs belong? more »
  • Is it possible to apply for a part-time secretary position for the project management? more »
  • How is the financing of equipment handled in ERC projects? If equipment is bought, is there any possibility to get the whole amount of the ERC-funding for the equipment in the year of purchase? more »
  • I want to finance equipment through the ERC-grant. Do I have to submit different price offers with my proposal? more »
  • Is it possible to lease equipment within an ERC-grant instead of buying? more »
  • Is it possible to request funding for maintenance costs? more »
  • Is it possible to account for computers/laptops as direct costs? more »
  • Is it possible to use personnel costs that have not been spent for other research activities or resources such as consumables? Are there general rules for the shifting of budget? more »
  • Is it possible to transfer those parts of the budget which have not been spent in the 1st reporting period to the 2nd reporting period? Are there general rules for the shifting of budget? more »
  • Do amendments etc. always have to be signed by one of the authorised representatives or is it also possible, in certain cases, that the representatives authorise a member of their staff to sign on their behalf? more »
  • Does it matter if a female Principal Investigator’s child at the time of proposal submission has already reached the age of 18 months? Or will the effective time elapsed since the PhD be reduced by 18 months in any case? more »
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