Applicants for the ERC Advanced Grants - called Principal Investigators (PI) - are expected to be active researchers who have a track-record of significant research achievements.

The Principal Investigators should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions. No specific eligibility criteria with respect to the academic requirements are foreseen.

How much?

Advanced Grants may be awarded up to € 2.5 million for a period of 5 years. (pro rata for projects of shorter duration). However, an additional € 1 million can be made available to cover eligible “start-up” costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU or an associated country and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities and/or other major experimental and field work costs.

To further encourage the submission of excellent proposals by Principal Investigators currently based in non-associated third countries, the ERC has decided to double the amount of additional funding that can be awarded to Advanced Grant applicants moving to the EU or an associated country to take up their ERC grant. In this case, the maximum additional funding shall be € 2 million.

An ERC grant can cover up to 100% of the total eligible direct costs of the research plus a contribution of 25% of the total eligible costs towards indirect costs.

Advanced Grants will be implemented as a pilot call using a lump sum contribution. See Q&A on lump sums.