The European Research Council (ERC), along with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Research Infrastructures, is part of Horizon Europe’s Pillar I – ‘Excellent Science’. This pillar aims to promote scientific excellence and attract highly-skilled researchers and innovators to Europe.
The ERC encourages the highest quality research in Europe through competitive funding. It also aims to support investigator-driven frontier research across all fields, on the basis of scientific excellence.
What the ERC funds
ERC grants are awarded through open competition to projects headed by starting and established researchers, irrespective of their origins, who are working or moving to work in Europe. The sole criterion for selection is scientific excellence.
The goal is to recognise the best ideas and confer status and visibility on the best brains in Europe, while also attracting talent from abroad.
ERC Work Programme 2024
The European Commission has published the current Work Programme detailing the European Research Council calls for 2024. This document includes all call topics and information needed to apply.