The Work Programme 2026 has been revised to include a new funding scheme, ERC Plus Grants, which will support outstanding researchers from Europe and anywhere in the world with bold ideas and a vision for transformative research that goes beyond the scope of existing ERC programmes.
€761 million awarded to 478 outstanding early-career researchers to launch their own projects, build research teams and pursue their most promising ideas.
Deadline: 28 August 2025
Deadline: 18 September 2025
Not every breakthrough makes headlines, but many quietly shape the technologies we depend on. Recent data from Proof of Concept (PoC) projects show that ERC-funded research often finds practical pathways into industry.
As Poland’s EU Presidency is drawing to a close, deputy minister for research Andrzej Szeptycki calls for increased funding and stronger support for both frontier research and start-ups. Highlighting the Warsaw declaration, he argues that closing the gap between research and the market is essential to Europe’s future competitiveness and technological sovereignty.
European Round Table for Industry (ERT) chair Jean-François van Boxmeer reflects on the vital role of science in securing Europe’s industrial future. He believes that only by investing in research, embracing innovation, and simplifying the Single Market can Europe stay competitive in a turbulent global landscape.
In early spring, the ERC brought together leading figures from business and innovation for a meeting in Brussels to discuss the factors shaping Europe's standing in the world and the role of science in that future. Read what they had to say.
Building on the outcomes of an ERC workshop on European competitiveness, ERC President Maria Leptin urges collaboration between science, industry, and policy. She writes that Europe must lead, by supporting bold ideas and scientific excellence, to remain globally competitive.
Dr David Bikard, from Institut Pasteur in France, was awarded the Gold Medal for his pioneering work on gene editing. He won an ERC Consolidator Grant in 2021.
The grants - totalling €721 million - will support 281 leading researchers across Europe. The funding will give senior researchers the opportunity to pursue ambitious projects that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs.
The ERC Scientific Council has decided to introduce several changes to the structure of grant proposals, the evaluation process and other elements. The first grant competitions under the new rules will open in July 2025.
Take a look back at the highlights of the ERC activities and achievements in 2024.
The European Commission is inviting the European research community to nominate outstanding candidates for membership to the Scientific Council, the governing body of the ERC.
The ERC decision to increase the support for researchers moving to Europe has today been formally adopted. On top of its standard grants, the ERC offers additional 'start-up' funding to help new grantees establish their laboratories or research team in Europe. This funding is now being doubled from up to €1 million to up to €2 million.
The ERC Scientific Council welcomes the offer of substantial additional budget for the development of a new larger, longer-term ERC grant. This was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ conference at the Sorbonne, with President Emmanuel Macron.
As global data generation grows exponentially, the need for efficient computer processing methods has never been greater. Theoretical computer scientist Bernhard Haeupler has returned to Europe from the United States to carry out research on distributed and parallel computing – with an unmatched freedom to explore ideas his own way.
Listen to the timely debate with stellar scientists – including Nobel Prize laureate Ben Feringa and science personality Robbert Dijkgraaf – as well as industry leaders, startup entrepreneurs and politicians. The ERC gathered them to explore how to strengthen Europe's competitive edge. Watch the recording!
These EURAXESS Africa and ERC webinars will explain ERC funding opportunities. Tune in on 7 May for the session in French and 9 May in English. Both sessions will be held at 10.00 AM CEST.
Hear from ERC-funded researchers who left the US for Europe and the latest news on ERC funding opportunities in this EURAXESS North America webinar. Watch the recording!
