ERC STARTING GRANTS

Scope:

Objectives

The Starting Grant supports excellent Principal Investigators starting or having recently started their own independent research team or programme. A Starting Grant Principal Investigator should have already shown evidence of the potential for research independence, for example, by having produced at least one important publication as its main author or a publication without the participation of their PhD supervisor.

Size of ERC Starting Grants

Starting Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 1 500 000 for a period of 5 years. The maximum size of the grants is reduced pro rata temporis for proposals of shorter duration.

Additional funding up to EUR 1 000 000 * can be requested to cover further eligible costs (e.g. start-up costs, major equipment, access to large facilities, major experimental and field work costs) when these are necessary to carry out the proposed work. The requests for additional funding must be duly justified in the proposal.

The maximum amount of the grant is reduced pro rata temporis for proposals of shorter duration. Additional funding is not subject to pro rata temporis reduction for projects of shorter duration.

Both the grant amount requested, as well as any additional funding are assessed during evaluation.

* Except for Principal Investigators in Starting, Consolidator, or Advanced Grant re-locating to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere to take up their ERC grant. In this case, the maximum additional funding shall be EUR 2 000 000.

Profile of the ERC Starting Grant Principal Investigator

The Principal Investigators shall have successfully defended their first PhD at least 2 and up to 7 years prior to 1 January 2026. Cut-off dates: Successful defence of PhD between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2023 (inclusive).

The eligibility period can be extended beyond 7 years in certain properly documented circumstances. See section 1.4 Admissibility, Eligibility, Resubmission Restrictions of the ERC Work Programme 2026.