ERC STARTING GRANTS

The ERC Starting Grant 2026 (ERC-2026-STG) is a prestigious funding opportunity provided by the European Research Council under the Horizon Europe program. This grant targets early-career researchers, specifically Principal Investigators (PIs) who have recently initiated or are about to start their independent research teams or programs. Eligible applicants must have completed their first PhD between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, thus having 2 to 7 years of post-PhD experience by January 1, 2026. There are provisions for extending the eligibility period under specific documented circumstances.

The maximum funding available is EUR 1,500,000 for a duration of 5 years, with the possibility of additional funding of up to EUR 1,000,000 for justified eligible costs. For PIs relocating to an EU Member State or Associated Country, an increased amount of up to EUR 2,000,000 can be requested, not subject to pro-rata reductions for shorter project durations. This grant is non-repayable and is categorized as monetary funding.

Proposals are invited for any field of frontier research, encouraging interdisciplinary applications, and there is no consortium requirement, allowing individual researchers to submit as single applicants. The host institution must be based in an EU Member State or an associated country, where the PI must conduct at least 50% of their working hours during the grant period.

The application process consists of a single-stage submission, with a deadline set for October 14, 2025. Evaluation comprises a two-step process focused solely on the excellence of the proposed research, with interviews conducted as part of the second step. The call has a highly competitive nature, although specific success rates are not provided.

There is no co-funding requirement, as the ERC grants cover all eligible costs fully. Moreover, successful applicants will need to ensure open access to all publications related to their project outcomes and will be required to manage research data according to the FAIR principles.

This grant represents a significant opportunity for early-career researchers to pursue groundbreaking scientific work, facilitating their independence while contributing to innovation within the European research landscape. The call opens on July 9, 2025, and concludes on October 14, 2025, with an expected total budget allocation of EUR 705.1 million for approximately 450 grants.

The ERC Starting Grant 2026, under the Horizon Europe programme, supports excellent Principal Investigators (PIs) who are starting or have recently started their own independent research team or program. The call identifier is ERC-2026-STG.

The primary objective is to provide funding to PIs who have demonstrated the potential for research independence. Evidence of this potential includes having produced at least one significant publication as the main author or a publication without the participation of their PhD supervisor.

The maximum grant amount is EUR 1,500,000 for a period of 5 years. This amount is reduced pro rata temporis for projects with a shorter duration. Additional funding of up to EUR 1,000,000 can be requested to cover eligible costs such as start-up costs, major equipment, access to large facilities, and major experimental and field work costs, provided these are well-justified in the proposal. For PIs relocating to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere to take up their ERC grant, the maximum additional funding can be EUR 2,000,000. Additional funding is not subject to pro rata temporis reduction for projects of shorter duration.

Eligible PIs must have successfully defended their first PhD between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023 (inclusive), meaning they should have defended their PhD at least 2 and up to 7 years prior to January 1, 2026. The eligibility period can be extended beyond 7 years under certain documented circumstances, as detailed in Section 1.4 of the ERC Work Programme 2026.

Funded PIs must spend at least 50% of their working time in an EU Member State or Associated Country and at least 50% of their working time on the ERC project.

Any type of legal entity, public or private, including universities, research organizations, or undertakings, can host a PI and their team. The host institution must be established in an EU Member State or an Associated Country and must engage the PI for at least the project's duration.

The call is open to researchers of any age and nationality, residing anywhere in the world at the time of application, who wish to conduct their research at a host institution based in an EU Member State or Associated Country. Applications are welcomed in any field of science, including interdisciplinary research.

Due to the high volume of applications, restrictions apply. Applicants should consult the ERC Work Programme 2026 and the Frequently Asked Questions for further details.

Proposals must be submitted by the PI on behalf of the host institution. The PI is responsible for the research conducted as part of the project. Applicants must select a primary evaluation panel and may also list a secondary panel, indicating if the proposal is cross-panel or cross-domain in nature.

Complete proposals must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal. A complete proposal includes:

Administrative form Part A (including the Ethics Issues Table and Budget Section)
Part I of the Scientific Proposal (up to 5 pages)
Part II of the Scientific Proposal (up to 17 pages)
Curriculum Vitae and Track Record (up to 4 pages)
Resources and Time Commitment (up to 2 pages)
Host Institution Support Letter
Ethics Issues Table
PhD record and supporting documents for eligibility checking

The evaluation process consists of two steps, with interviews at Step 2. Excellence is the sole evaluation criterion. Panels evaluate the ground-breaking nature and ambition of the research project, as well as the intellectual capacity and creativity of the PI.

At the end of Step 1, proposals receive one of the following scores: A invited, A not invited, B, or C. At the end of Step 2, proposals receive either A (recommended for funding) or B (not funded).

Under Horizon Europe, beneficiaries must ensure immediate open access to all peer-reviewed scientific publications related to their results, with full re-use rights. They must also manage research data in line with the FAIR principles (findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability) and establish a data management plan within the first six months of the project.

The call opens on July 9, 2025, and closes on October 14, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget for the call is EUR 705,100,000, with an indicative number of 450 grants to be awarded.

The ERC 2026 Starting Grant is a significant funding opportunity for early-career researchers who have demonstrated exceptional potential and are ready to lead their own independent research projects. It provides substantial financial support and the freedom to pursue ground-breaking research across all fields of science, fostering innovation and excellence within the European Research Area. The application process is rigorous, focusing on the excellence of both the PI and the proposed research, and requires careful preparation of a comprehensive proposal that adheres to the specified guidelines and page limits. Successful applicants will not only receive funding but also gain recognition and prestige, enhancing their career prospects and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant is the Principal Investigator (PI) who submits the proposal on behalf of the Host Institution. The PI can be of any age and nationality but must have a PhD and demonstrate potential for research independence. The Host Institution can be any type of legal entity, public or private, including universities, research organizations, or undertakings, located in an EU Member State or Associated Country.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant.

Consortium Requirement: The funding is for a single Principal Investigator, although they will have a team hosted by an institution. Therefore, it is a single applicant with a host institution.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The research must be carried out in a Host Institution based in an EU Member State or an Associated Country. Principal Investigators can be of any nationality and reside anywhere in the world at the time of application, but they must conduct their research at an eligible Host Institution.

Target Sector: This program targets all fields of science. Applications in any field of science are eligible for ERC funding, and interdisciplinary research proposals are welcomed.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States, Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is for researchers starting or having recently started their own independent research team or program. This suggests projects in the early stages of development and demonstration.

Funding Amount: The grant may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 1,500,000 for a period of 5 years. Additional funding up to EUR 1,000,000 can be requested to cover further eligible costs. For Principal Investigators relocating to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere, the maximum additional funding can be EUR 2,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

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

Application Stages: The evaluation procedure involves two steps. Step 1: Evaluation of the proposal. Step 2: Interview with the Principal Investigator.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the document notes that restrictions on applications apply due to the large number of applications received every year.

Co-funding Requirement: The document does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2026-STG) is a funding opportunity provided by the European Research Council (ERC) under the Horizon Europe program. It aims to support excellent Principal Investigators (PIs) who are starting or have recently started their own independent research team or program. The grant provides up to EUR 1,500,000 for a period of 5 years, with the possibility of additional funding up to EUR 1,000,000 (or EUR 2,000,000 for relocating PIs) to cover eligible costs.

The call is open to researchers of any age and nationality, residing anywhere in the world, who wish to carry out their research at a Host Institution based in an EU Member State or Associated Country. The PI must have successfully defended their first PhD at least 2 and up to 7 years prior to 1 January 2026 (with specific cut-off dates between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2023). Extensions to the eligibility period may be granted under certain documented circumstances.

The evaluation process consists of two steps: a proposal evaluation and an interview. Excellence is the sole criterion for evaluation, focusing on the ground-breaking nature and ambition of the research project, as well as the intellectual capacity and creativity of the PI.

The application must be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal and includes an administrative form, a scientific proposal (Part I and Part II), a curriculum vitae and track record, a resources and time commitment section, a host institution support letter, an ethics issues table, and a PhD record.

This grant is designed to enable promising researchers to establish their independence and build their own research teams, contributing to cutting-edge research across all fields of science within the European Research Area. The call opens on 9 July 2025, and the deadline for submissions is 14 October 2025.