The European Commission Horizon Europe: Excellent Science European Research Council invites proposals for its ERC-2021-StG starting grants. These support researchers who are starting their own independent research team or programme. Applications may be made in any field of research with an emphasis on the frontiers of science, scholarship and engineering.

PIs may be any nationality and based in any country at the time of application. They should have been awarded their first PhD between two and seven years prior to 1 January 2021 and must have produced at least one important publication as main author or without the participation of their PhD supervisor. Host institutions must be established in EU members states or associated countries as a legal entity under national law, or may be an international European research organisation, the European Commission's joint research centre or any other entity under EU law, including public and private entities, universities, research organisations and similar undertakings. They must be engaged at the host institution for the duration of the project and spend a minimum of 50 per cent of working time in an EU member state or associated country and a minimum of 50 per cent of their working time on the ERC project.

The budget is €619 million to fund approximately 413 grants. Grants are worth up to €1.5m each over five years and an additional €1m may be requested for eligible start-up costs of moving to the EU or an associated country, the purchase of major equipment, access to large facilities and major experimental and field work costs.

Ref: ERC-2021-StG

For more information visit the ERC Starting grants call webpage.