Starting Grant
The ERC Starting Grant funds outstanding early-career researchers to launch innovative, high-impact research projects in any scientific field at European institutions.
Funder: European Research Council
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to €1.5 million over 5 years (plus up to €1 million additional for eligible costs; up to €2 million for researchers relocating from non-associated countries)
Summary: Supports outstanding early-career researchers to establish independent research teams and pursue innovative projects in any scientific field at a European host institution.
Key Information: This is a forecasted call; all dates are projected and subject to confirmation.
Description
The ERC Starting Grant is designed to empower early-career researchers (2–7 years post-PhD) from any nationality to launch their own independent research programs at a host institution located in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country. The scheme supports ambitious, high-impact research projects across all fields, with no predetermined priorities, and provides substantial resources for researchers to build teams and advance the frontiers of knowledge. The sole evaluation criterion is scientific excellence, considering both the project and the Principal Investigator (PI).
