ERC Research Funding

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 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 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 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) →

Factsheet ERC Proof of Concept 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.