The European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant 2027 is one of the most prestigious and competitive individual research grants in Europe, offering up to €1.5 million over 5 years to support early-career researchers pursuing frontier research. The ERC-2027-StG call is expected to launch in July 2026, with a submission deadline around October 2026. The 2027 call introduces significant changes to the eligibility window, now supporting researchers 0–10 years after their PhD.
Key Benefits
- Up to €1.5 million in funding over 5 years (exceptional extensions may be granted)
- Freedom to pursue any field of frontier research across all disciplines
- Funding covers personnel costs (PI, postdocs, students), equipment, travel, and overheads
- Research can be conducted at any legal entity (university, research institute) in an EU Member State or Associated Country
- Principal Investigator retains full scientific independence
Eligibility Criteria
- PhD defended between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2026 (2–10 years post-PhD for 2027 call)
- Must hold a host institution based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country
- No nationality restrictions — open to researchers worldwide
- A researcher may receive a maximum of one Starting Grant (StG) and one Consolidator Grant (CoG) in their career
Key Dates (Expected)
- Call opens: July 2026
- Submission deadline: October 2026 (exact date TBC on the EU Funding Portal)
- Results announced approximately 12 months after the deadline
How to Apply
- Prepare a research proposal (Part B1: synopsis; Part B2: full scientific proposal) following ERC templates
- Submit via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal
- Secure administrative support from your host institution’s research office
- Evaluation is based purely on scientific excellence — no socioeconomic criteria
The ERC Starting Grant has launched the careers of some of the world’s most impactful researchers. With the 2027 call now expanding eligibility to researchers within the first 10 years of their PhD, this is an unmissable opportunity for ambitious scientists across all disciplines.
Always verify deadlines and details on the official European Research Council website before applying.