Inhalt: Home / Information
about the ERC / Funding schemes / Starting Grants
Starting Independent Researcher Grants
Starting Independent Researcher Grants
ERC Starting Grants are aimed at promising researchers who are at the beginning of an independent research career. With the grant, the creation of their own research team will be funded.
Starting Grants will be awarded for up to 5 years, with a funding of up to EUR 1.5 million (in exceptional a top-up of up to EUR 500,000 can be granted). The research project has to be executed at a host institution in an EU Member State or FP7 associated country.
Researchers of any nationality can apply for a Starting Grant if they were awarded their PhD between 2 to 7 years prior to the publication date of the respective call for proposals. Special rules apply for medical doctors (MDs) and for applicants with a career break (in such cases the eligibility time window can be prolonged for up to 11 years and 6 months).
For the evaluation of the researcher profile several benchmarks according to research domain and career development are taken into account. For instance, applicants should have at least one important publication without their PhD supervisor. Other benchmarks include publications as first author in high-ranking international journals, (translated) monographs, patents, conference presentations or (inter)national prizes and awards.
ERC Grants are awarded to the Principal Investigator for building up a new research team and can be transferred to other host institutions (portability). However, for reasons of financial administration, the grant is transferred to the host institution. The host institution must nevertheless guarantee that the Principal Investigator has the authority to manage the funding and make resource allocations independently.
The budget for this funding scheme for the 2013 Work Programme is EUR 398 million.
back
KoWi Factsheet for the ERC Starting Grants
[de] [en] ERC StG 2013 - Guide for Applicants, vers. August 2012
[en] The ERC Starting Grant - Supporting the next generation of research leaders in Europe
[en] ERC Rules for submission, evaluation, selection, award
[en]
Top