Starting Grant
The European Research Council Starting Grant funds early-career researchers to establish independent, high-impact research projects in any scientific field based on scientific excellence.
Funder: European Research Council
Due Dates: October 14, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to €1.5 million for 5 years; up to €1 million additional funding (or €2 million for PIs relocating from outside the EU/Associated Countries)
Summary: Supports outstanding early-career researchers to establish independent research teams and projects in any field at EU or associated country institutions.
Key Information: Scientific excellence is the sole selection criterion; eligibility window is 0–10 years post-PhD (defended between Jan 1, 2017 and Dec 31, 2026, with extensions possible).
Description
The European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant is a highly competitive funding opportunity designed for early-career researchers of any nationality who are ready to establish their own independent research program. The grant supports ambitious, ground-breaking research projects across all disciplines, following a bottom-up approach with no predefined thematic priorities. Recipients must conduct their research at a host institution located in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country. The sole selection criterion is scientific excellence, applied both to the Principal Investigator and the proposed project.
