Frequently asked questions

During each step of the ERC Starting Grant 2022 evaluation, the two main elements of the proposal (Principal Investigator and research project) will be evaluated and rated. At the end of each evaluation step, the proposals will be ranked by the panels on the basis of the panels' overall appreciation of their strengths and weaknesses.

At the end of Step 1 of the evaluation, on the basis of the assessment of Part B 1, the proposal will receive one of the following scores:

• A, is of sufficient quality to pass to Step 2 of the evaluation;
• B, is of high quality but not sufficient to pass to Step 2 of the evaluation;
• or C, is not of sufficient quality to pass to Step 2 of the evaluation.

At the end of Step 2 of the evaluation, on the basis of the assessment of the full research proposal, applicants will be informed of one of the following scores for their proposal either:

• A, fully meets the ERC's excellence criterion and is recommended for funding if sufficient funds are available;
• or B, meets some but not all elements of the ERC's excellence criterion and will not be funded.

Once the evaluation of their proposal has been completed, applicants to all grants will receive an evaluation report which will include the final panel score and ranking range, the panel comment and the assessment of the evaluation elements by each individual independent external expert.

More information on the results of the peer review evaluation can be found in the ERC Rules of submission and evaluation under Horizon Europe (section 3.8 'Feedback to applicants').

According to the conditions of the ERC Starting Grant 2022 call, as long as no PhD document or equivalent is uploaded in the submission tool of the Funding & Tenders Portal, it will not be possible to validate/submit the proposal. A warning message will inform the applicant of the missing document. If another document is uploaded instead of the PhD certificate, the ERCEA may contact the PI and ask for a clarification and the missing PhD document.

For more information on admissibility and eligibility criteria, see the related section in the ERC Work Programme 2022.

Yes. Unlike the main Frontier Research (StG, CoG, AdG, SyG) grant calls, there are no eligibility conditions to apply for a PoC linked to the results of proposals submitted to previous PoC calls. Therefore, the PI who applied to the call ERC-2022-PoC1 and whose proposal was not selected for funding may apply to ERC-2022-PoC2, provided they fulfill eligibility conditions as stipulated in the ERC 2022 Work Programme.

Yes, for the ERC Synergy Grant (ERC-2022-SyG) call, all Principal Investigators (PIs) whose proposal has been retained for Step 3 will be invited to an interview. It is highly recommended that all PIs are present at the interview to facilitate the assessment of the Synergy group. In very exceptional cases, in case a PI is unable to attend the interview (e.g. pregnancy, immobility due to illness, expedition), the ERC offers alternative solutions in case of on-site meetings (e.g. video or phone conference alternatives for a remote participation in the interview).More information about the ERC-2022-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2022.

The exact interview details will be communicated to the successful Step 2 applicants shortly after the end of the 2022 Synergy Grant (SyG) Step 2 panel meetings in July – August 2022 before the start of the interviews on 5 September 2022. Depending on the pandemic situation and the decision of the ERC, the interviews will be planned either online or will take place in person in Brussels. Regardless of the place of the interview, all PIs of a SyG group will be requested to participate at the interview. The length and interview format depend on the decision of the panels: interviews could last around 45-50 minutes in total. The panel may ask the applicants to give a 10-15 minutes presentation on the proposed research project. The remaining time could be devoted to questions and answers on the scientific content and implementation of the project, modalities of collaboration among the principal investigators and the project's budget and resources, and so on. The presentation is an opportunity to elaborate on the synergies that the project aims to create.More information about the ERC-2022-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2022.

Principal Investigators (PIs) can work at the same Host Institution (HI), or at different HIs within one country or at HIs based in different countries. HIs must be established in an EU Member State or Associated Countries. In the 2022 Synergy Grant (SyG) Call, with the exception of the corresponding Host Institution, it is possible to have one PI applying with a Host Institution outside of the EU or Associated Countries. More information about the ERC-2022-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2022.

No, there are no specific requirements on the type of configuration. Being located in two different countries will not affect the chance of success. The PIs have to demonstrate convincingly that there will be significant synergies and sufficient time spent together in close collaboration that enables to achieve the aims of the project. More information about the ERC-2022-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2022 and the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2022 Call.

The term 'Synergy' cannot be defined in one single way. It is not the end goal, but rather the means to achieve the aims of a Synergy project. Synergy projects should generally involve composite teams that are capable of tackling bold new research themes that require novel approaches and unique fusions of researchers. Such teams are typically characterised by exceptional combinations of knowledge and skills, in which the 2, 3 or 4 Principal Investigators hold a central role. A Synergy project could incorporate novel multi- or trans-disciplinary approaches or innovative combinations of knowledge and skills in a single discipline or research field. Each Synergy proposal must demonstrate that its objectives can only be achieved through the specific combination of knowledge and skills brought together by the participating PIs. In other words, a major scientific question of pressing significance, an integrated team and the transformative scientific potential are crucial elements in conceiving a Synergy proposal. More information about the ERC-2022-SyG call is available in the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2022 Call.

Not only. The ultimate goal of the ERC Synergy (SyG) scheme is to allow for a close and genuine collaborative interaction that will enable transformative research at the forefront of science, capable of yielding unpredictable and ground-breaking scientific results, leading to a result that is more than just the sum of Principal Investigators (PIs)' individual contributions. More information about the ERC-2022-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2022 and the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2022 Call.

Principal Investigators (PIs) with different profiles can apply to the ERC-2022-SyG call as long as they have competitive track records appropriate to their career stage. PIs must then present, as part of the proposal, either an early achievement track-record or a 10-year track-record, whichever is most appropriate for their career stage (see Starting, Consolidator, Advanced Grant profiles in the ERC Work Programme 2022).