[European Research Council](https://erc.europa.eu)

November 2026 (Full application, ERC Synergy Grant)

Up to €10 million for 6 years per project; up to €4 million additional for start-up/mobility/major equipment costs.

Funds teams of 2–4 principal investigators to collaboratively address ambitious, complex research problems requiring a synergetic approach.

This is a forecasted call; dates and details may change—monitor the program page for updates.

--- ## Description The European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant supports small groups of two to four principal investigators (PIs) and their teams to jointly tackle ambitious, complex research problems that cannot be addressed by a single researcher or team alone. The scheme encourages interdisciplinary, high-risk/high-gain projects that bring together complementary skills, knowledge, and resources, aiming for transformative advances at the frontiers of knowledge. Proposals are evaluated solely on scientific excellence, with a strong emphasis on the synergetic value of the collaboration. The scheme is open to all fields of research, with no predetermined priorities. --- ## Due Dates - **November 2026**: Full application deadline (anticipated/projected). *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - **Maximum grant:** Up to €10 million per project for up to 6 years (pro rata for shorter projects). - **Additional funding:** Up to €4 million may be requested for eligible start-up costs (e.g., relocation from a third country to the EU/Associated Country), purchase of major equipment, access to large facilities, or major experimental/field work costs. - **Coverage:** ERC grants cover up to 100% of eligible direct costs, plus a 25% flat rate for indirect costs. --- ## Eligibility - **Team composition:** Groups of **2–4 Principal Investigators** (PIs), any career stage, from any country. - **Host institutions:** Research must be conducted at public or private research organizations in EU Member States or Associated Countries. One PI per group may be hosted by an institution outside the EU/Associated Countries. - **No specific academic requirements:** No restrictions on academic background; PIs must demonstrate a competitive track record relative to their career stage. - **Synergy requirement:** Proposals must show that the research question cannot be addressed by a single PI/team. - **Time commitment:** Each PI must commit at least 30% of their working time to the project and (if hosted in the EU/Associated Country) at least 50% of their working time in the EU/Associated Country. - **Resubmission restrictions:** PIs whose Synergy Grant 2025 proposals were scored “B” or “C” at Step 1 are ineligible for the 2026 call. --- ## Application Process - **Single-stage submission:** Full proposals are submitted electronically via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home). - **Key documents required:** - Administrative forms - Research proposal (Parts I & II) - CV and track record for each PI (max 4 pages each) - Budget table and justification - Host Institution support letter(s) - Ethics and security self-assessment - **Evaluation:** Three-step peer review process: 1. Step 1: Assessment of Part I and PIs’ CVs/track records by a generalist panel. 2. Step 2: Full proposal (Parts I & II, budget, resources) assessed by interdisciplinary panels, with input from external experts. 3. Step 3: Interviews with all PIs of shortlisted proposals. - **Selection criterion:** Scientific excellence, including the intrinsic synergetic effect of the group. - **Feedback:** Applicants receive evaluation reports at each stage. - **Ethics review:** All proposals recommended for funding undergo a separate ethics review. --- ## Additional Information - **Eligible Fields:** All disciplines; interdisciplinary and unconventional approaches are encouraged. - **Host Institutions:** May be public or private, including universities, research organizations, or companies, located in EU/Associated Countries. - **Gender Equality:** Host institutions must have a Gender Equality Plan or equivalent in place for the duration of the grant. - **Open Science:** Immediate open access to peer-reviewed publications is required; data management plans must be established. - **Team members:** Researchers of any nationality may be employed as team members; some may be based outside the EU/Associated Countries. - **Restrictions:** PIs can only hold one main ERC grant at a time and cannot submit multiple proposals to ERC main grant calls in the same cycle (only the first eligible proposal will be evaluated). - **Resubmission rules:** See ERC Work Programme for details on restrictions based on previous application outcomes. --- ## External Links - [ERC Synergy Grant program page](https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/synergy-grants) - [ERC Work Programme 2026 (PDF)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026/wp_horizon-erc-2026_en.pdf) - [Information for Applicants 2026 (PDF)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/information-for-applicants_he-erc-syg_en.pdf) - [Guide for Peer Reviewers 2026 (PDF)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/experts/guide-for-peer-reviewers_he-erc-syg_en.pdf) - [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home) - [List of Associated Countries (PDF)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - [ERC National Contact Points](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp?functions=45785764) - [ERC Synergy Grant – Frequently Asked Questions](https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/synergy-grant#Stepbystep) --- ## Contact Information | Contact Type | Details | |----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [erc-syg-applicants@ec.europa.eu](mailto:erc-syg-applicants@ec.europa.eu) | | National Support | [ERC National Contact Points](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp?functions=45785764) | | Ethics Support | [ERC-ETHICS-REVIEW@ec.europa.eu](mailto:ERC-ETHICS-REVIEW@ec.europa.eu) | | Open Science Queries | [ERC-OPEN-ACCESS@ec.europa.eu](mailto:ERC-OPEN-ACCESS@ec.europa.eu) | | ERC Executive Agency | [Contact Page](https://erc.europa.eu/support/contact-us-page) | ---

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