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ERC Research Funding

The European Research Council (ERC) is an institution established by the European Commission to fund basic and excellent research. The ERC is funded through the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe.

The aim of ERC funding is to support the best and most creative scientists in exploring new approaches in all disciplines. In particular, interdisciplinary approaches that transcend the disciplinary boundaries of their field are considered to be promising for innovation.

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ERC

All ERC Grants at Goethe University

​ERC Starting Grants (StG)

ERC Starting Grants are aimed at excellent young researchers who are at the beginning of an independent career and want to establish their own research group.Applicants should meet certain standards and be able to demonstrate this, e.g. by at least one publication as lead author in an international journal, publication of a (translated) monograph, patents or presentations at international conferences. In addition to a promising academic career, an innovative and ambitious research project is also required.

Factsheet ERC Starting Grants →

ERC Consolidator Grant (CoG)

ERC Consolidator Grants are aimed at excellent and promising young scientists who want to consolidate their own research group or research program. Applicants should meet certain standards and be able to demonstrate this, for example, through publications as lead author in leading international journals, monographs, patents, presentations at international conferences, or (inter)national science awards. In addition, proof should be provided that at least one important publication was published without a doctoral supervisor.

Fact Sheet ​ERC Consolidator Grants →

ERC Advanced Grants (AdG)

ERC Advanced Grants are aimed at established scientists who are conducting new, outstanding research projects. For the evaluation of the scientific performance of an applicant the last 10 years are decisive. Depending on the research field, publications as lead author in leading international journals, (translated) monographs, patents, presentations at international conferences, research expeditions, the organization of international conferences, as well as (inter)national science prizes and academy memberships of the applicant are taken into account with different weighting in the assessment of scientific excellence.

Fact Sheet ​ERC Advanced Grants →

ERC Synergy Grant (SyG)

ERC Synergy Grants are aimed at groups of two to four scientists who are jointly planning the implementation of a new research project. Funding is provided for projects that lead to discoveries at intersections between established disciplines, and to substantial advances at the frontiers of knowledge. A prerequisite for a Synergy Grant is that the project is only made possible and has promise through the collaboration of researchers. In addition, excellent research experience must be demonstrated by the individual team members. Applicants are evaluated depending on the stage of their career according to the criteria of Starting, Consolidating, or Advanced Grants.

Factsheet ERC Synergy Grant (SyG) →

More information about ERC Grants

The ERC supports excellent fundamental research as part of Horizon Europe. Its purpose is to give outstanding researchers the freedom to explore new, often interdisciplinary approaches. At Goethe University, a wide range of projects are funded through various ERC grants, including ERC Advanced Grants, ERC Consolidator Grants, ERC Starting Grants, ERC Synergy Grants, and ERC Proof of Concept.

Overview ERC Grants

Starting Grant (StG)

Target group:  
Early-career researchers aiming to establish their own team and research program

Career stage/Qualifications:  
0-10 years after obtaining a PhD (reference date: Jan 1 of the year of the respective call and date of PhD defence)

Funding: up to €1.5 million

Duration: up to 5 years

Consolidator Grant (CoG)

Target group:  
Researchers consolidating their own research team or programme

Career stage/Qualifications:  
5-15 years after obtaining a PhD (reference date: Jan 1 of the year of the respective call and date of defence of doctoral thesis)

Funding: up to €2 million

Duration: up to 5 years

Advanced Grant (AdG)

Target group:  
Well-established researchers developing a new and outstanding project

Career stage/Qualifications:  
10 years of excellent scientific track record

Funding: up to €2.5 million

Duration: up to 5 years

Synergy Grant (SyG)

Target group:  
Group of 2-4 researchers collaborating on a joint research project with a novel approach

Career stage/Qualifications:  
Excellent scientific track record

Funding: up to €10 million (total per project)

Duration: up to 5 years

Proof of Concept Grant (PoC)

Target group:  
ERC grantees that want to explore the commercial and social innovation potential of their ERC funded research

Career stage/Qualifications:  
Principal Investigators in one of the ERC frontier research main grants

Funding: up to €150,000

Duration: up to 18 months

Further Information

European Research Council
National Contact Point ERC