ERC to fund €1.8 million initiative to bolster support for applicants and grantees across Europe
The new project aims to improve the quality of support that the National Contact Points (NCPs) provide to researchers applying for European Research Council (ERC) grants. The €1.8 million mERCury 'coordination and support action' is planned to run from 2025 to 2028 and bring together 23 NCPs from EU member states and associated countries.
The network of NCPs is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe, including the ERC.
The overarching goal of mERCury is to enhance, professionalise and harmonise the quality of services provided by ERC NCPs – the key intermediaries offering guidance to applicants navigating the highly competitive ERC funding. The project sets out to improve consistency in service standards and widen access to underrepresented countries.
The project targets four main groups: new or less experienced NCPs, those based in 'widening' countries or regions with historically low participation rates; all ERC NCPs more broadly, and the grant applicants and policymakers.
With three objectives, mERCury will:
- Improve and harmonise NCP services by providing tailored training, identifying and sharing good practices, and creating an AI-powered knowledge-sharing platform;
- Build capacity among newcomer and Widening country NCPs through mentoring, twinning schemes, and tailored onboarding support;
- Strengthen national and local support to applicants, notably by offering practical tools, workshops, and a “train the trainer” approach to enhance institutional guidance for ERC hopefuls.
A strong emphasis will be placed on levelling the playing field. For instance, at least 60% of participants in capacity-building events will be drawn from widening countries or less experienced NCPs. The project will also run stakeholder workshops, publish guidelines, and deliver at least seven open-access training events for applicants – with a target of 70% participation from widening countries.
Ultimately, mERCury seeks not only to improve services but also to boost the quality and number of ERC proposals submitted from across Europe, particularly where participation has been weakest – laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and competitive European research landscape.
