ERC Starting Grant: Up to €1.5 Million for Early-Career Researchers in Europe

The European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant is the most prestigious funding opportunity for early-career researchers in Europe. It provides up to €1.5 million over five years to establish an independent research team and pursue groundbreaking, high-risk/high-gain research. Unlike most grants that fund incremental work, the ERC explicitly rewards scientific ambition and the potential for paradigm-shifting discoveries.

This is a career-defining opportunity. Success rates hover around 10-15%, but winning an ERC Starting Grant immediately elevates your standing in the European research landscape, opening doors to faculty positions, further funding, and international recognition. The grant is “portable”—you can take it to another institution if you move—and provides remarkable flexibility in how funds are spent.

At a Glance

What This Grant Covers

ERC Starting Grants provide exceptional funding flexibility:

• Total budget: Up to €1,500,000 over five years (60 months)
• Indirect costs: An additional 25% of direct costs is provided to the host institution for overhead
• Personnel: Hire postdocs, PhD students, technicians, and other team members
• Equipment: Purchase instruments and infrastructure needed for your research
• Travel and networking: Attend conferences, visit collaborators, build international networks
• Consumables and materials: Cover all research expenses
• No co-funding required: The ERC covers the full cost; you do not need matching funds

The funding is remarkably flexible. Unlike many grants with rigid budget categories, ERC allows you to reallocate funds between personnel, equipment, and other costs as your research evolves. The only major constraint is that you (as Principal Investigator) must dedicate at least 50% of your working time to the project.

Eligibility Requirements

Career stage: You must be 2-7 years post-PhD at the call deadline. Extensions are available for career breaks (maternity leave, parental leave, illness, clinical training, national service) at the rate of 18 months per child born after the PhD, plus additional time for other qualifying breaks.

Track record: You need an “outstanding” track record relative to your career stage. For Starting Grants, this typically means:

• Several publications in major international peer-reviewed journals as first or corresponding author
• Evidence of independence from your PhD supervisor
• Invitations to present at international conferences
• For some fields: patents, clinical trials, software, artistic works, or other outputs

Host institution: Your research must be conducted at a host institution in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country (including the UK under the current association agreement). You can apply before having a formal agreement with a host, but you must have a commitment letter by the time of grant signature.

Time commitment: You must spend at least 50% of your working time on the ERC project and be present in Europe for a significant portion of the project duration.

The Two-Stage Application Process

ERC Starting Grants use a two-stage evaluation:

Stage 1 (all applicants):

• Extended synopsis (5 pages maximum) describing the project
• CV and track record (2 pages)
• Evaluated by 25-member discipline panels; approximately 30% proceed to Stage 2

Stage 2 (shortlisted applicants):

• Full scientific proposal (15 pages maximum)
• Detailed budget
• Many panels conduct interviews (typically 30 minutes: 10-minute presentation + 20-minute Q&A)

Both stages are evaluated on two equally-weighted criteria:

1. Excellence of the Principal Investigator: Track record, intellectual capacity, creativity
2. Excellence of the project: Groundbreaking nature, ambition, feasibility, methodology

Timeline for the 2025 Call

• Call opens: May 2025
• Submission deadline: October 15, 2025 (17:00 Brussels time)
• Stage 1 results: February-March 2026
• Stage 2 submission: Only the extended proposal from Stage 1; no new documents
• Interviews (if required): April-May 2026
• Final results: June-July 2026
• Project start date: Typically 12-24 months after the call deadline

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

1. Lead with the scientific question, not the methodology. ERC panels are looking for breakthrough science. Your first paragraphs should make clear why this research matters and what paradigm it could shift. Reviewers lose interest in proposals that read like technical manuals.

2. Demonstrate independence from your PhD supervisor. This is critical for Starting Grants. If you’ve published exclusively with your doctoral advisor since finishing your PhD, reviewers will question whether you can lead independent research. Show evidence of new collaborations, sole-authored papers, or projects initiated without your former supervisor.

3. Be ambitious but credible. The ERC funds “high-risk/high-gain” research, but reviewers must believe you can deliver. Balance ambitious goals with a realistic work plan. Include go/no-go checkpoints and explain how you’ll pivot if initial approaches fail.

4. Tailor your track record to your field. Publication cultures differ enormously. In some fields, three first-author Nature papers in 5 years is exceptional; in others, a monograph and several book chapters is the standard. Contextualize your achievements for evaluators outside your exact specialty.

5. Write for intelligent non-specialists. Panel members are scientists in your broad domain but often not in your specific subfield. Avoid excessive jargon. Use figures and diagrams to communicate complex ideas quickly.

6. Prepare intensively for interviews. If your panel conducts interviews, this is decisive. Practice your 10-minute presentation until you can deliver it confidently. Prepare for challenging questions about methodology, feasibility, and what happens if key experiments fail.

7. Choose your host institution strategically. The institution matters. Strong ERC environments provide administrative support, access to equipment, and a culture of ambitious research. Reach out to faculty at potential hosts early in your application process.

8. Read successful proposals. Many funded PIs share their winning applications online. Study the structure, tone, and level of detail in proposals from your discipline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Incremental research dressed as breakthrough science. The ERC is not for “the next logical step” in your field. Proposals must articulate genuine novelty and transformative potential.
• Overloading objectives. Trying to do too much undermines credibility. Three to five well-developed objectives are better than ten superficial ones.
• Neglecting the work plan. A brilliant concept without a feasible plan will fail. Include detailed timelines, milestones, and risk mitigation.
• Underdeveloped B part. In Stage 2, the full proposal must demonstrate thorough planning. Rushed or incomplete sections suggest the applicant isn’t ready.
• Ignoring panel composition. Understand which panel will evaluate your proposal and tailor language accordingly. A proposal that’s perfect for mathematicians may confuse engineers.
• Weak host institution commitment. If you’re applying from a new institution, include a strong support letter confirming space, equipment access, and research environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as “2-7 years post-PhD”? The eligibility window runs from the date your PhD was awarded to the call deadline. Extensions are granted for documented career breaks (parental leave, illness, etc.). Calculate carefully and document any extensions.

Can I apply if I already have permanent faculty position? Yes. ERC Starting Grants are open to all early-career researchers regardless of current position. Many successful applicants hold lectureships, junior professorships, or group leader positions.

Do I need preliminary data? Not necessarily, but some evidence of feasibility strengthens your application. This could be preliminary results, publications in related areas, or demonstrated expertise in proposed methods.

Can I apply to multiple ERC grant types simultaneously? No. You cannot have proposals for Starting Grant, Consolidator Grant, or Advanced Grant under evaluation at the same time.

What if I’m rejected? You can reapply in subsequent years. Many successful applicants were rejected once or twice before winning. Use panel feedback (Evaluation Summary Reports) to strengthen your next submission.

Is the UK still eligible? Yes. Under the Horizon Europe association agreement, UK-based researchers can apply as hosts, and the UK counts as an associated country. Verify current status on the ERC website.

What makes a proposal “high-risk/high-gain”? High-risk means the research addresses genuinely open questions where failure is possible. High-gain means success would significantly advance the field. Incremental improvements to existing methods do not qualify.

Post-Award Expectations

If funded, you will:

• Start the project within 12 months of grant signature
• Submit annual scientific and financial reports
• Conduct research primarily at your host institution (minimum 50% time commitment)
• Acknowledge ERC funding in all publications and dissemination
• Participate in ERC communication activities and evaluation panels if invited

The ERC takes a “trust the scientist” approach. There is limited micromanagement, and you have substantial freedom to adapt your research as discoveries emerge. This flexibility is one of the grant’s greatest strengths.