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

November 2026

Up to €10 million per project (6 years max); up to €4 million additional for major costs (equipment, relocation, etc.)

Funds collaborative research projects led by 2–4 principal investigators to address ambitious scientific challenges that cannot be tackled by a single team.

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

--- ## Description The ERC Synergy Grant supports small groups of two to four principal investigators (PIs) working collaboratively to tackle ambitious, complex research questions that cannot be addressed by a single PI or team. The scheme is open to researchers from any discipline and at any career stage, with the only evaluation criterion being scientific excellence—both of the proposed research and the synergetic collaboration. Projects should aim for transformative advances at the frontiers of knowledge, often involving interdisciplinary or unconventional approaches. --- ## Due Dates - **Anticipated Full Proposal Deadline:** November 2026 *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - **Maximum grant:** Up to €10,000,000 for up to 6 years (pro rata for shorter projects) - **Additional funding:** Up to €4,000,000 may be requested for eligible major costs (e.g., start-up costs for researchers relocating to the EU/Associated Country, major equipment, access to large facilities, or significant experimental/field work) - **Funding model:** 100% of eligible direct costs plus a 25% flat rate for indirect costs --- ## Eligibility - **Principal Investigators:** Groups of 2–4 PIs of any nationality, career stage, and discipline; no specific academic training requirements. - **Host Institutions:** Each PI must be hosted by a public or private research organization (university, research institute, etc.) in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. One PI per group may be hosted by an institution outside these regions if justified. - **Team Members:** PIs may employ team members of any nationality; team members can be based outside the EU/Associated Countries if scientifically justified. - **Time commitment:** Each PI must spend at least 30% of their working time on the ERC project, and (unless hosted outside EU/Associated Countries) at least 50% of their working time in the EU or Associated Country. - **Resubmission restrictions:** PIs whose proposals received a “B” or “C” score in Step 1 of the previous Synergy Grant call are ineligible for this cycle. - **Other restrictions:** A PI may hold only one ERC main grant at a time and cannot apply if they are already preparing a grant agreement for another ERC grant. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Single-stage, full proposal submission via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/calls-for-proposals?programmePart=43108406&frameworkProgramme=43108390) - **Proposal components:** - Administrative forms (Part A) - Research proposal (Parts B1 and B2, including scientific strategy, CVs, track records, methodology, resources, and budget) - Host Institution support letters - Ethics and security self-assessment - **Evaluation:** Three-step process: 1. Step 1: Assessment of Part I of the scientific proposal and CVs/track records 2. Step 2: Full proposal review (including methodology, resources, and collaboration details) 3. Step 3: Interview of all PIs with the evaluation panel in Brussels (in person or, in exceptional cases, remotely) - **Selection criterion:** Solely scientific excellence, including the added value of the group’s synergy --- ## Additional Information - **Open to any field:** Proposals can address any area of science, scholarship, or engineering. - **Ethics & open science:** All funded projects must comply with EU ethics rules and ensure open access to publications and data (as open as possible, as closed as necessary). - **Gender equality:** Host institutions must have a Gender Equality Plan in place. - **Portability:** Grants can be transferred to new host institutions if needed. - **Results & statistics:** Past results and examples are available on the [ERC Synergy Grant results page](https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/synergy-grant). --- ## 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) - [EU Funding & Tenders Portal – Calls](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/calls-for-proposals?programmePart=43108406&frameworkProgramme=43108390) - [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) - [Find your National Contact Point (NCP)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp?functions=45785764) - [ERC Guide for Peer Reviewers 2026](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/experts/guide-for-peer-reviewers_he-erc-syg_en.pdf) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |---------|---------| | General queries | [ERC Synergy applicants mailbox](mailto:erc-syg-applicants@ec.europa.eu) | | National support | [Find your National Contact Point (NCP)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp?functions=45785764) | | Ethics queries | [ERC Ethics Support](mailto:ERC-ETHICS-REVIEW@ec.europa.eu) | | Open access/data | [ERC Open Access](mailto:ERC-OPEN-ACCESS@ec.europa.eu) | ---

Synergy Grant

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