Skip to main content
European Commission logo
EURAXESS Researchers in motion
NEWS12 Sep 2023opportunities

ERC Consolidator Grants 2024 call

ERC CoG - get ready

The 2024 call is closed since 12 December 2023. A new one should open in 2024

Are you a scientist who wants to consolidate your independence by establishing a research team and continuing to develop a success career in Europe? The ERC Consolidator Grant could be for you. You can also apply if you have recently created an independent, excellent research team and want to strengthen it.

Who can apply?

Researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD (Extensions are possible under certain circumstances — see the latest ERC Work Programme), a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal.

The ERC has changed the reference date for calculating the eligibility window for the Starting and Consolidator Grant calls in their Work Programme 2023.

Instead of the date of the actual award, the certified date of the successful PhD defence will be used as a reference point. This change was made to ensure fair competition in terms of career stage, as the term "award" varies across countries and universities.

For applicants where no defence/viva was organised in the awarding institution, the applicant should provide a written confirmation from that awarding institution stating that no defence/viva was organised and indicating the date when the PhD was approved.

What proposals are eligible?

Criteria

Applications can be made in any field of research. The ERC's grants operate on a 'bottom-up' basis without predetermined priorities.

Location

Research must be conducted in a public or private research organisation (known as a Host Institution/HI). It could be the HI where the applicant already works, or any other HI located in one of the EU Member States or Associated Countries

Host Institution

Applications for an ERC grant must be submitted by a single Principal Investigator (PI) in conjunction with and on behalf of their Host Institution, called the applicant legal entity.

Any type of legal entity, including universities, research centres and undertakings can host the PI and his/her team. Legally the Host Institution must be based in one of the EU Member States, or one of the Associated Countries.

The PI does not necessarily need to be working at the Host Institution at the time when the proposal is submitted. However, a mutual agreement and the Host Institution’s commitment on how the relationship will be established are necessary, should the proposal be successful.

Team

ERC grants support projects carried out by an individual researcher who can employ researchers of any nationality as team members. It is also possible to have one or more team members located in a non-European country. Vacancies for team members interested in joining an ERC-led research project can be published on the Euraxess Jobs portal.

Initiatives, under the form of 'Implementing Arrangements', exist for ERC-funded teams in Europe to host non-European talented scientists. Find out more about the agreements.

UK’s participation in Horizon Europe

The European Commission and the United Kingdom have reached a political agreement on the UK's participation in Horizon Europe, the EU's research, and innovation programme. Read more

How much?

Consolidator Grants may be awarded up to € 2 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.

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.

More details can be found on the ERC Consolidator Grants webpage.

Deadline: 12 December 2023

ERC Consolidator call

 

    Important documents

    Result of the previous call ERC Consolidator Grant 2022:

    Interested in applying or in more information on the ERC? Check our resources:

    ERC Consolidator Infographic