ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant

Aim

Europe currently offers insufficient opportunities for young investigators to develop independent careers and make the transition from working under a supervisor to being independent researchers in their own right. This structural problem leads to a dramatic waste of research talent in Europe. It also limits or delays the emergence of the next-generation of research leaders, who bring new ideas and energy, and it encourages highly talented researchers at an early stage of their career to seek advancement elsewhere.

ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grants (ERC Starting Grants) aim to support up-and-coming research leaders who are about to establish or consolidate a proper research team and to start conducting independent research in Europe. The scheme targets promising researchers who have the proven potential of becoming independent research leaders. It will support the creation of excellent new research teams and will strengthen others that have been recently created.

ERC Starting Grant in brief

  • Research proposal: pioneering frontier research in any field of science, engineering and scholarship
  • Principal Investigator: candidates can be of any nationality, and must have obtained their PhD (or equivalent degree more than two years but less than ten years prior to the opening date of the relevant call for proposals (justified extensions of this period may be accepted, see ERC guide for applicants - grant Schemes
  • Host organisation: legally recognised public or private research organisation situated in an EU Member State or an Associated Country. The Associated Countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, FYR of Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, and Turkey.
  • Funding: up to € 2.0 M per grant (normally up to € 1.5 M per grant)
  • Duration: up to 5 years
  • Calls for proposals: published annually in summer (normally late July each year) with deadlines in autumn

 

For research talents with proven potential only

A competitive applicant must have already shown the potential for research independence and evidence of scientific maturity. For example, it is normally expected that applicants will have produced independently at least one important publication without the participation of their PhD supervisor. Applicants should also be able to demonstrate a promising track-record of early achievements appropriate to their research field and career stage, including significant publications (as main author) in major international peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journals, or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals of their respective field. They may also demonstrate a record of invited presentations in well-established international conferences, granted patents, awards, prizes etc.

 

Attractive long-term funding

Depending on the nature of the proposed research, which must be carried out in any EU Member State or associated country, it may be supported with up to € 2 M for a duration of up to 5 years (covering up to 100% of the direct project costs and a contribution corresponding to 20% of the direct costs towards indirect costs).

 

How will proposals be assessed?

Scientific excellence, being the sole criterion to assess and select proposals, is applied to the evaluation of both the Principal Investigator and the research project. The evaluation of proposals lies in the hands of 25 peer review panels covering all fields of science, engineering and scholarship (the Panel Structure is shown here). The Panels are empowered to conclude whether the grant and the conditions specified by the host institution will allow the Principal Investigator to make or consolidate the transition to scientific independence. Each of these panels is composed of 10-15 distinguished researchers acting as independent experts in the subject area of the panel. They are supported in the individual assessment of proposals by additional experts who acts as remote referees. The names of the Panel Chairs and Panel Members are published annually by the ERC Scientific Council.
Starting Grant (2009) Panel Chairs
Starting Grant (2009) Panel Members

 

More information

For a full explanation of this grant scheme as well as the preparation and submission of an ERC Grant proposal, please consult the Guide for Applicants - Grant Schemes. For a full explanation of the evaluation and selection process, please consult the Guide for Peer Reviewers - Starting Grant scheme (to be published soon).