ERC Starting Grants 2026

The ERC Starting Grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they are starting their own independent research team or programme. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal.

Starting Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 1 500 000 for a period of 5 years. The maximum size of the grants is reduced pro rata temporis for projects of a shorter duration. (This does not apply to ongoing projects).

Additional funding up to EUR 1 000 000 can be requested in the proposal to cover the following eligible costs when these are necessary to carry out the proposed work: (a) «start-up» costs for Principal Investigators moving to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere as a consequence of receiving the ERC grant, and/or (b) the purchase of major equipment, and/or (c) access to large facilities, and/or (d) other major experimental and field work costs, excluding personnel costs.

The Principal Investigators shall have succesfully defended their first PhD at least 2 and up to 7 years prior to 1 January 2026. Cut-off dates: Successful defence of PhD between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2023 (inclusive).

The eligibility period can be extended beyond 7 years in certain properly documented circumstances.

Deadline: 14 October 2025 17:00:00 Brussels time.

If you are interested in this call, you can contact us at the e-mail address international@iisaragon.es