First Calls For Proposals Published Under Horizon Europe
On 22 February 2021, the European Commission, in the context of the Framework Programme Horizon Europe 2021-2027, adopted the first Work Programme 2021 for the European Research Council, including three main Calls for Proposals for frontier research actions. The calls target top researchers from anywhere in the world with scientific excellence being the sole criterion on the basis of which ERC frontier research grants will be awarded. A total budget reaching 1.9 billion € will help to converge in Europe breakthrough scientific and technological innovations, able to shape the basis of tomorrow industries, markets and society. Moreover, peer review panels composed of renowned scientists and scholars will conduct the evaluation of the grant applications.
The Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants will support projects carried out by individual teams and headed by a single Principal Investigator, and they will interest all fields of research following a ‘bottom-up’ approach, although, proposals of a multi- or interdisciplinary nature, which cross the boundaries between different fields of research, will be thoroughly assessed.
Starting Grant call:
Each grant will support up to 1.5 million € for a period of five years. They will be directed to competitive Starting Grant Principal Investigators that have already shown the potential for research independence and are able to demonstrate a promising track record of early achievements appropriate to their research field and career stage. With a total budget of 619 million €, the ERC expects to finance 413 Principal Investigators that are starting their own independent research team or programme. The call will open today 25 February until 8 April, postponing the original closing date of 24 march.
Consolidator Grant call:
Each grant will support up to 2 million € for a period of five years. They will be directed to competitive Consolidator Grant Principal Investigators that have already shown research independence and evidence of maturity (for example, having already published several important publications as the main author) and are able to demonstrate a promising track record of early achievements appropriate to their research field and career stage. With a total budget of 633 million €, the ERC expects to finance 317 Principal Investigators that are still consolidating their own independent research team or programme. The call will open from 11 March until 20 April.
Advanced Grant call:
Each grant will support up to 2.5 million € for a period of five years. They will be directed to competitive Advanced Grant Principal Investigators that are already established research leaders with a recognized track record of research achievements. With a total budget of 626 million €, the ERC expects to finance 250 Principal Investigators that are at the top of their own research field and are leading ground-breaking scientific proposals. The call will open from 20 May until 31 August.
