The European Research Council (ERC) will soon launch its 2027 Consolidator Grant competition, one of Europe’s most prestigious and generous research funding schemes for mid-career scientists and scholars. This grant supports ambitious, investigator-driven research projects across all disciplines and is open to researchers worldwide who are based in, or willing to relocate to, an EU Member State or Horizon Europe–associated country.
Key Details
- Grant Amount: Up to €2 million over 5 years; up to an additional €1 million for specific eligible costs (e.g., major equipment, large facilities)
- Eligibility: Principal Investigators who defended their PhD between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2021 (5–15 years post-PhD at the time of the call deadline)
- Important: Applicants may not hold a Starting or Consolidator Grant more than once — prior StG/CoG holders are not eligible
- Host Institution: Must be based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe–associated country (or relocating there)
- Open To: Researchers of any nationality worldwide
- Call Opens: September 2026 (expected)
- Submission Deadline: 12 January 2027 (to be confirmed)
- How to Apply: Submit via the ERC Funding and Tenders Portal
The ERC Consolidator Grant is designed for researchers who have shown the potential to become independent research leaders. It is widely regarded as a career-defining award in European academia. Researchers outside Europe are encouraged to consider relocating, as the grant supports non-EU Principal Investigators who move to an eligible institution with additional relocation funding of up to €2 million.
Always verify deadlines and details on the official European Research Council website before applying.