ERC 2026 PERA

The ERC Public Engagement with Research Award 2026 (ERC-2026-PERA) is a recognition prize by the European Research Council aimed at rewarding outstanding science communicators among its Principal Investigators (PIs). The eligibility is strictly limited to PIs of ERC-funded frontier research projects that are ongoing or have concluded on or after December 31, 2023. Each application must be submitted by a single PI, although in cases of Synergy Grants, multiple PIs who have collaborated can submit a joint application, designating one as the lead.

The award consists of up to eight prizes of €10,000 each, totaling €80,000. This is not a funding mechanism for future projects but a recognition of past achievements in public engagement activities that must demonstrate mature impact. Eligible activities can include citizen science initiatives, public outreach programs, educational efforts, and collaborations with various audiences, including schools, museums, and policymakers.

The application process opens on October 14, 2025, with submissions due by January 15, 2026. The evaluation will assess the quality and implementation of public engagement strategies and the impact of activities reflected in evidence of success. The monetary award does not require matching funds, reinforcing accessibility to PIs regardless of additional resources.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, containing administrative forms and a comprehensive contest proposal. The overarching goal of this initiative is to encourage PIs not only to conduct excellent research but also to actively engage with public audiences, ultimately enhancing public understanding of science and ensuring research contributes to societal needs.

The ERC Public Engagement with Research Award (ERC-2026-PERA) is a Horizon Europe Recognition Prize that aims to reward outstanding science communicators among the European Research Council's (ERC) Principal Investigators. The goal is to recognize and promote good practices in science communication and encourage more ERC grantees to engage in public engagement activities.

The total budget for the ERC-2026-PERA call is EUR 80,000. Up to eight prizes will be awarded, each with a value of EUR 10,000. The call is a single-stage application process. The opening date for submissions is October 14, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is January 15, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The indicative number of grants is 8.

Public engagement is defined as the involvement of the public in the design, conduct, or dissemination of activities funded by the ERC. It is a two-way process that involves interaction and mutual understanding for mutual benefit. Examples of public engagement activities include:

Citizen science activities conducted in collaboration or consultation with the public at any stage of the frontier research project, from design to implementation, such as public consultations or citizen juries.

Public outreach activities that highlight a research topic by disseminating its content, promoting discussion, or inspiring potential future researchers. These activities can include art and science projects, educational programs, exhibitions, and can target diverse audiences and venues such as students, schools, museums, or science festivals.

Activities that foster consultation and exchange with citizen groups to raise awareness on a topic, address a societal challenge, or contribute to a public debate. These activities can be based on preliminary or final project results and can involve journalists, policymakers, non-governmental organizations, citizen or patient groups, and product users.

Eligible participants are Principal Investigators in an ERC frontier research project that is either ongoing or has ended on or after December 31, 2023. Applications must be submitted by a single Principal Investigator who is responsible for the content of the application. In the case of Synergy Grants, each Principal Investigator may submit an application for the public engagement activities they have worked on, provided these activities are different from those of the other Principal Investigators. If several Principal Investigators of a Synergy project have conducted public engagement activities together, they may exceptionally submit a joint application, with one of them as the lead applicant. Each Principal Investigator may submit only one application per ERC project.

Eligible activities must refer to public engagement activities for an ERC-funded project, regardless of the sources of funding for the public engagement activities themselves. These activities should be sufficiently mature to demonstrate impact.

Applications must be complete and contain all the requested information and required annexes and supporting documents. This includes:

Administrative proposal forms: available online via the EU Funding & Tenders opportunities Portal, which requires registration.

Contest proposal (Part B): available in the submission tool and should be uploaded as a PDF file. Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form and in the Rules of Contest.

All applications must be complete, readable, accessible, and submitted before the submission deadline. Applications that do not meet these criteria may be declared inadmissible.

Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

Eligible countries are described in the ERC Work Programme 2026 and Annex 3. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other eligible conditions are described in the ERC Work Programme 2026 and Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in section 7 of the Rules of Contest.

The quality of applications will be evaluated based on two weighted award criteria, as described in section 9 of the Rules of Contest:

Strategy and implementation: quality of the public engagement strategy and its implementation, including the appropriateness of the used tools, channels, and resources, and the implementation to the objectives and audience of the action. The degree of novelty or creativity of the approach will also be considered.

Impact: quantitative and qualitative evidence of the activity’s success in achieving its own public engagement objectives, including evidence of learning by the research team and/or the public who engaged in the activity on how to successfully engage with each other.

Submission and evaluation processes are described in the ERC Work Programme 2026, the Rules of Contest, and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in the ERC Work Programme 2024 and the Rules of Contest.

The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in section 10 of the Rules of Contest. The prize is exclusively for ERC grantees.

Key documents include the ERC Work Programme 2026, the Rules of Contest, the Application form (available in the Submission System), the HE Programme Guide, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, the Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The submission session is available from October 14, 2025, via the EC Funding & Tenders opportunities Portal.

Principal Investigators who applied to a previous ERC Public Engagement with Research Award can apply for the ERC-2026-PERA call, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. Principal Investigators who have held multiple ERC grants can submit one application for each ERC-funded frontier research project that is either ongoing or has ended on or after December 31, 2023.

The ERC Public Engagement with Research Award is designed to recognize and reward ERC Principal Investigators who have demonstrated excellence in science communication and public engagement. By providing a financial prize and highlighting best practices, the ERC aims to encourage more researchers to actively involve the public in their research and to effectively communicate the value and impact of their work to a broader audience. This initiative underscores the importance of bridging the gap between scientific research and society, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of science among the general public.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is Principal Investigators (PIs) in an ERC frontier research project, that is either ongoing or has ended on or after 31/12/2023. In the case of Synergy Grants, each Principal Investigator may submit an application for the public engagement activities, which the specific Principal Investigator has worked on, provided that these activities are different from those of the other Principal Investigators. If several Principal Investigators of a Synergy project have conducted public engagement activities together, they may exceptionally submit a joint application. One of them should be the lead applicant.

Funding Type: This opportunity provides a recognition prize.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a single applicant, which should be a Principal Investigator. However, in the case of Synergy Grants, a joint application may be submitted exceptionally by several Principal Investigators who have conducted public engagement activities together, with one designated as the lead applicant.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is linked to the ERC grants. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets science communication and public engagement with research. It aims to reward researchers who successfully engage audiences outside their domain with ERC-funded research. Thematic areas include citizen science, public outreach, and activities that foster consultation and exchange with citizen groups to raise awareness on a topic or address a societal challenge.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions non-EU and non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The eligible activities should be sufficiently mature to demonstrate impact.

Funding Amount: Up to eight prizes will be awarded, each with a value of EUR 10,000. The total budget for the topic is EUR 80,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. Applications must be submitted via the EC Funding & Tenders opportunities Portal. The deadline model is single-stage.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a prize.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is 8, and the contributions are expected to range from 5000 to 10000.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The ERC Public Engagement with Research Award (ERC-2026-PERA) is a Horizon Europe Recognition Prize designed to reward outstanding science communicators among the European Research Council's (ERC) Principal Investigators. The award aims to recognize and promote good practices in science communication and encourage ERC grantees to actively engage the public with their research findings. The prize focuses on rewarding researchers who have successfully involved the public in the design, conduct, or dissemination of their ERC-funded projects. Public engagement activities can include citizen science initiatives, public outreach programs, and activities that foster consultation and exchange with citizen groups to raise awareness on a research topic or address societal challenges.

To be eligible, applicants must be Principal Investigators of an ongoing or completed ERC frontier research project (ended on or after 31/12/2023). Applications must be submitted individually, although in the case of Synergy Grants, a joint application from multiple PIs is exceptionally permitted. The application process involves submitting administrative forms and a contest proposal (Part B) through the EU Funding & Tenders opportunities Portal. The quality of applications will be evaluated based on the strategy and implementation of the public engagement activities, as well as the impact achieved in terms of public engagement objectives. Up to eight prizes of EUR 10,000 each will be awarded to the most outstanding science communicators. The call opens on 14 October 2025, and the deadline for submissions is 15 January 2026. This initiative is part of the ERC's broader effort to promote public understanding of science and foster a stronger connection between researchers and society.