ERC Work Programme 2023 - European Union
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EN
ANNEX
ERC Work
Programme
2023
1|Page2|Page
About this document
This document is the annual Work Programme for the European Research Council (ERC)
funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and
Innovation.
It is the legal document which sets out how the ERC will allocate its funding for the
corresponding year.
It is established by the ERC Scientific Council and subsequently adopted by the European
Commission.
The rules applying to the submission and peer review and evaluation of proposals, as well as
to the award of grants to successful legal entities are set out in “The European Research
Council Rules of Submission, and the related methods & procedures for peer review and
proposal evaluation relevant to the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe”,
referred to in this document as “ERC Rules of submission and evaluation under Horizon
Europe”, and available at:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/erc-
rules-for-submission-and-evaluation_he-erc_en.pdf
How to apply for ERC grants
Principal Investigators who wish to apply for ERC grants need to do so through the EU
Funding & Tenders Portal, which contains all information on each call, as well as details of
National Contact Points who can provide information and personalised support in different
languages:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home
More information on the ERC in general, including its mission and organisation, a description
of its funding schemes, a step-by-step application guide and details on funded projects is
available at:
http://erc.europa.eu/
3|PageSummary of main features in 2023
This ERC Work Programme is the third under the 2021-2027 Horizon Europe Framework
Programme for Research and Innovation of the European Union (‘Horizon Europe’).
Considering the Union’s interest to retain, in principle, relations with the countries associated
to the predecessor programme to Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, most third countries
associated to Horizon 2020 have already, or are expected to be, associated to Horizon
Europe, while association agreements with certain countries have now started producing
legal effects. For the purposes of the eligibility conditions, applicants established in Horizon
2020 Associated Countries or in other third countries negotiating association to Horizon
Europe will be treated as entities established in an Associated Country, if the Horizon Europe
association agreement with the third country concerned applies at the time of signature of
the grant agreement. Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, and Synergy Grants will be available
under this Work Programme. ERC Principal Investigators funded under one of these grants
under prior Work Programmes will also be able to apply for complementary funding, via the
Proof of Concept Grants.
Restrictions on applications will apply to the 2023 calls based on the outcome of the
evaluation of previous calls – see restrictions on submission of proposals under “Admissibility
and eligibility criteria”. Submission restrictions for Principal Investigators who served as panel
members under previous calls apply. The members of ERC panels alternate to allow panel
members to apply to the ERC calls in alternate years.
For ERC Starting and Consolidator Grants, as from 2023, the reference date towards the
calculation of the eligibility period is the certified date of the successful defence (and not the
award) of their PhD degree.
In addition to the previously existing grounds for extension of the PhD eligibility window for
Starting and Consolidator Grants, the documented time of applicant Principal Investigator’s
inability to work before the call deadline due to a natural disaster or for seeking asylum,
which occurred after the date of successful PhD defence, might be considered – see detailed
rules under section “Admissibility and eligibility criteria”
The evaluation elements of the Proof of Concept Grant have been slightly modified.
Finally, as from 2021, it is no longer possible for applicants to opt out of the submission of
Research Data Management plans.
4|PageTable of contents
About this document 3
How to apply for ERC grants 3
Summary of main features in 2023 3
Objectives and Principles of ERC Funding 6
Main Frontier Research Grants 14
- Indicative summary of calls from the 2023 budget 15
- Grants 17
- Funding 25
- Admissibility and eligibility criteria 26
- Proposal submission and description 35
- Evaluation procedure and criteria 38
Complementary funding for ERC Principal Investigators 45
- Summary of complementary funding with indicative budget and
timetable 46
- Proof of Concept Grant 48
Other Actions 55
Public Procurement 61
Indicative Budget 63
Annexes 65
1. Primary panel structure 66
2. ERC policy on PhD and equivalent doctoral degrees 69
3. Countries associated to Horizon Europe and restrictions applying to 71
some legal entities
4. Security 73
5. Gender equality plan 74
Early Detection Exclusion System (EDES) 75
5|PageObjectives and
Principles of
ERC Funding
6|PageThe fundamental activity of the ERC, via its Council. The panels may be assisted by
main frontier research grants1, is to independent external experts working
provide attractive, long-term funding to remotely.
support excellent investigators and their
The ERC's peer review evaluation process
research teams to pursue ground-
has been carefully designed to identify
breaking, high-risk/high-gain research.
scientific excellence irrespective of the
Research funded by the ERC is expected to gender, age, nationality, or institution of
lead to advances at the frontiers of the Principal Investigator and other
knowledge and to set a clear and potential biases, and to take career
inspirational target for frontier research breaks, as well as unconventional research
across Europe. career paths, into account2. The
evaluation process ensures that Principal
Excellence is the sole criterion on Investigators have the professional
the basis of which ERC frontier competences and qualifications required
research grants are awarded to complete their proposed action3. The
evaluations are monitored to guarantee
The ERC also awards complementary transparency, fairness, and impartiality in
funding for the Principal Investigators the treatment of proposals. ERC calls are
funded by its main grants, in order to fulfil expected to be highly competitive.
its mission of supporting new ways of
working in the scientific world, and to
raise the profile of frontier research in
Europe, as well as the visibility of ERC
programmes to researchers across Europe
and internationally.
2
The ERC’s main grants, as well as other Regarding negative impacts of the Covid-19
outbreak on a Principal Investigator’s curriculum
Principal Investigator-led actions, are
vitae or track record, see the section “Evaluation
evaluated based on the sole criterion of criteria”.
excellence, comprising a set of detailed 3
Applicants whose proposals are recommended
evaluation elements decided by the ERC for funding are deemed to fulfil the operational
Scientific Council based on the specific capacity requirements of Article 198(3) of
Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the
objectives of the grant.
European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July
2018 on the financial rules applicable to the
The evaluation of applications to the ERC’s
general budget of the Union, amending
main grants is conducted by peer review
Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No
panels composed of renowned scientists 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No
and scholars selected by the ERC Scientific 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No
1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014,
1
Starting Grant, Consolidator Grant, Advanced and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing
Grant and Synergy Grant, also referred to in this Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193,
Work Programme as “main grants”. 30.07.2018, p. 1) (the 'Financial Regulation').
7|PageApplications can be made in any research team or programme, as well as to
field of research already established research leaders.
The ERC's frontier research grants4 The ERC awards flexible, long-term
operate on a 'bottom-up' basis without funding for a period of up to five years for
predetermined priorities. the Starting, Consolidator and Advanced
Grants, and up to six years for the Synergy
The ERC puts particular emphasis on the Grants. The Scientific Council reviews
frontiers of science, scholarship, and funding conditions regularly to make sure
engineering. It encourages proposals of a that grants remain competitive both at the
multi- or interdisciplinary nature, which European and at the international level.
cross the boundaries between different
fields of research, pioneering proposals The maximum grant amount varies by
addressing new and emerging fields of grant type. An ERC grant can cover up to
research, or proposals introducing 100% of the total eligible direct costs of
unconventional, innovative approaches the research plus a contribution towards
and scientific inventions. indirect costs, in accordance with the
conditions set out in the Model Grant
ERC funding may also enable new ways of Agreement used for ERC actions.
working in the scientific world, with the
potential to create breakthrough results ERC grants are portable6 as described in
and facilitate commercial and social the Model Grant Agreement.
innovation potential of funded research5.
The ERC aims to use procedures that
Independent researchers of any age maintain the focus on excellence,
encourage initiative, and combine
and career stage can apply for
simplicity and flexibility with
attractive long-term funding 7
accountability . The ERC is continuously
The ERC awards funding to excellent looking for ways to improve its procedures
investigators looking to set up or in order to fulfil these principles.
consolidate their own independent
6
Portability means that Principal Investigators may
4
‘ERC frontier research action’ means a principal request to transfer their entire grant, or part of it,
investigator-led research action, including ERC to a new beneficiary, under specific conditions
Proof of Concept, hosted by single or multiple included in the Model Grant Agreement used for
beneficiaries receiving funding from the European ERC actions. These conditions may include
Research Council (ERC). provisions for the transfer of equipment purchased
5
If requested by the granting authority, additional and used exclusively for the implementation of the
obligations to grant non-exclusive licenses for the project.
7
exploitation of results apply to the beneficiaries of Beneficiaries of ERC research grants are not
ERC frontier research grants in case of a public required to submit a plan for the exploitation and
emergency (see Annex 5 of the Model Grant dissemination of the results during project
Agreement used for ERC actions). implementation.
8|PagePrincipal Investigators from Grants will support small groups of two to
anywhere in the world can apply four Principal Investigators and their
teams with a designated Corresponding
for an ERC grant
Principal Investigator.
ERC grants are open to researchers of any
The constitution of the research teams is
nationality who may reside in any country
flexible. Depending on the nature of a
in the world at the time of the application.
project, the research team may involve
The ERC is particularly keen to team members from other research
encourage excellent proposals organisations situated in the same or in a
from Principal Investigators based different country (see “Eligible host
in non-associated third countries institution”). ERC Synergy Grant Groups
wishing to carry out a project with are neither networks nor consortia of
a host institution in the EU or in undertakings, universities, research
one of the Associated Countries. centres, or other legal entities (see
“Profile of the Synergy Grant Group”).
The host institution must be established in
a Member State or an Associated Country. The ERC supports individual
However, the team members of any Principal Investigators. Support for
Principal Investigator, as well as one of the consortia is provided by other calls
Principal Investigators in a Synergy Grant under Horizon Europe.
Group8 may be based outside of the EU or
an Associated Country9 (see “Eligible host
institution”). Host institutions must provide
appropriate conditions for the
The ERC frontier research grants
Principal Investigator to
aim to empower individual
independently direct the research
researchers and provide the best
and manage its funding
settings to foster their creativity
An ERC grant is awarded to the institution
The Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced that engages and hosts the Principal
Grants will support projects carried out by Investigator(s)10. Grants are awarded to
individual teams, which are headed by a
single Principal Investigator. ERC Synergy 10
Normally the Principal Investigator will be
employed by the Host Institution, but cases where,
8
See “Profile of the Synergy Grant Group”. for duly justified reasons, the Principal
9
Further guidance on tackling various security Investigator's employer cannot become the host
aspects and mitigating associated risks in research institution, or where the Principal Investigator is
has been published by the European Commission, self-employed, can be accommodated. The specific
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation: conditions of engagement will be subject to
Tackling R&I Foreign Interference: Staff Working clarification and approval during the granting
Document, 2022 procedure, or during the amendment procedure
https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/513746 for a change of host institution.
9|Pagethe host institution with the explicit publish independently as main
commitment that this institution offers author and include as co-authors
appropriate conditions for the Principal only those who have contributed
Investigator(s) to independently manage substantially to the reported work;
the ERC funded research. It is expected
that Principal Investigators will be able to select and supervise the work of
start their project within six months of team members, including doctoral
receiving an invitation letter from the ERC. candidates or others;
In the case of Synergy Grants with more have access to appropriate space
than one host institution, each of the host and facilities for conducting the
institutions will offer support to the research;
Principal Investigator(s) hosted by them meet the time commitments
for the duration of the grant. described in the grant
13
agreement .
The host institutions must engage the
Principal Investigators for at least the Public or private institutions, including
duration of the grant. universities, research organisations, and
The conditions11 offered by the host undertakings can host the Principal
institution or institutions, including the Investigator and their team as long as the
'portability' of the grant, are the subject of principles indicated above are respected
a supplementary agreement between the and the Principal Investigator is not
Principal Investigator(s) and the host constrained by the research strategy of
institution(s)12 and must ensure that the the entity.
Principal Investigator is able to:
The ERC welcomes applications
apply for funding independently; from Principal Investigators hosted
by private for-profit research
manage the research and the centres, including industrial
funding for the project, and make laboratories.
appropriate resource allocation
decisions;
13
Time commitments will be monitored, and in
cases where the actual commitment is below the
11
These conditions are consistent with “The minimum levels set out in this Work Programme
European Charter for Researchers” and “The Code (see "Minimum Time Commitment"), or the levels
of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers”
indicated in the grant agreement (see "Proposal
available at:
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/a description" in the section "Main Frontier Research
m509774cee_en_e4.pdf. Grants"), appropriate measures may be taken, up
12
This is supplementary to the ERC Grant to and including grant reduction, suspension or
Agreement and is described in the ERC Model termination in accordance with the grant
Grant Agreement. agreement.
10 | P a g eHost institutions are expected to make all be provided with full re-use rights15.
appropriate efforts to provide the Beneficiaries must ensure that they or the
conditions to attract and retain scientists authors retain sufficient intellectual
and scholars of the calibre to be awarded property rights to comply with their open
an ERC grant, within the framework access requirements. Publishing costs can
provided by the Model Grant Agreement be considered as eligible costs provided
and any other available administrative and that the publishing venue (e.g. journal,
legal possibilities. book) is fully open access.
Open science In addition, beneficiaries of ERC grants
funded under this Work Programme will
Open science is a core principle of the be covered by the provisions on research
ERC. The ERC is committed to the principle data management as set out in the Model
of open access to the published output of Grant Agreement used for ERC actions. In
research, including, in particular, peer- particular, whenever a project generates
reviewed articles and monographs. It also research data, beneficiaries are required
supports the basic principle of open access to manage it in line with the principles of
to research data and data-related findability, accessibility, interoperability,
products such as computer code, and reusability as described by the FAIR
algorithms, software, workflows, principles initiative16, and establish a data
protocols, electronic notebooks, or any management plan within the first six
other forms of research output. The ERC months of project implementation. Open
considers that providing free online access access to research data should be ensured
to all these materials can be the most under the principle ‘as open as possible, as
effective way of ensuring that the results closed as necessary’. These provisions are
of the research it funds can be accessed, designed to facilitate access, re-use and
read and used as the basis for further preservation of the research data
advancement. generated during the ERC funded research
Under Horizon Europe, beneficiaries of work.
ERC grants must ensure immediate open
Gender balance
access to all peer-reviewed scientific
publications14 relating to their results as Under Horizon Europe, beneficiaries of
set out in the Model Grant Agreement ERC grants must take all measures to
used for ERC actions. Open access has to promote equal opportunities between
men and women in the implementation of
the action, and aim for a gender balance
14 15
This includes peer-reviewed book chapters and For monographs and other long-text formats,
long-text publications such as monographs, edited commercial re-use and derivative works may be
collections, critical editions, scholarly exhibition excluded.
16
catalogues, or PhD theses. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2016.18
11 | P a g eat all levels of personnel assigned to the Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European
action, including at supervisory and Parliament and of the Council17.
managerial level, as set out in the Model
Grant Agreement used for ERC actions.
ERC Principal Investigators should also
determine the relevance of integrating sex
and gender analysis into their research.
Specific activities promoting equal
opportunities or gender balance, or
covering the gender dimension of research
funded by the ERC can be considered as
eligible costs where these costs are
necessary for the implementation of the
action.
Ethical principles
The proposed research and innovation
activities must comply with ethical
principles and relevant national, Union
and international legislation, including the
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
European Union and the European
Convention on Human Rights and its
Protocols. Particular attention must be
paid to the principle of proportionality,
the right to privacy, the right to the
protection of personal data, the right to
the physical and mental integrity of a
person, the principle of non-
discrimination, and the need to ensure
high levels of human health protection.
The proposed research and innovation
activities must have an exclusive focus on
civil applications.
17
Funding of human embryonic stem cell Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European
research is possible within the ethical Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021
establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework
framework set out in Article 18 of
Programme for Research and Innovation, laying
down its rules for participation and dissemination,
and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and
(EU) No 1291/2013 (OJ L 170 , 12.5.2021, p. 1).
12 | P a g eSecurity The host institutions that engage and host
ERC Principal Investigators have the
ERC actions must comply with applicable primary responsibility for the detection of
security rules and, in particular, rules on scientific misconduct, and for the
the protection of classified information investigation and adjudication of any
against unauthorised disclosure, including breaches of research integrity that may
compliance with any relevant Union and arise. Therefore, host institutions are
national law18. expected to have working structures in
place to uphold research integrity, and to
Research integrity
make all appropriate efforts to verify
Research integrity is a core principle of the that no allegations of scientific misconduct
ERC. It is essential to maintain and are pending against any Principal
promote a culture of research integrity at Investigator applying for or participating in
all stages of the evaluation and granting an ERC grant, and to bring to the attention
process to make ERC competitions fair and of the ERC any such allegations or cases of
efficient, and to maintain the trust of both scientific misconduct.
the scientific community and society as a
The ERC applies the same rigour to
whole.
ensuring that its evaluation process is
Cases of scientific misconduct such as governed by principles of research
fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or integrity, in particular through rules on
misrepresentation of data that may arise confidentiality and conflict of interest.
during the evaluation or throughout the
life cycle of an ERC funded project will be
addressed vigorously by the ERC within
the applicable legal and procedural
framework. Any breach of research
integrity by Principal Investigators, team
members, or beneficiaries may be
sanctioned by measures such as the
rejection of proposals from evaluation,
requests for measures to be taken by the
host institution, reduction of the grant,
and suspension or termination of grants.
18
See the rules for protecting EU-classified
information set out by Commission Decision (EU,
Euratom) 2015/444 of 13 March 2015 on the
security rules for protecting EU classified
information (OJ L 72, 17.3.2015, p. 53), Article 20
of Regulation (EU) 2021/695 and Annex 4 to this
Work Programme.
13 | P a g eMain Frontier
Research Grants
14 | P a g eIndicative summary of calls from the 2023 budget19
Starting Consolidator Advanced Synergy
Grant Grant Grant Grant
Call identifier ERC-2023-StG ERC-2023-CoG ERC-2023-AdG ERC-2023-SyG
Call opens 12/07/2022 28/09/2022 08/12/2022 13/07/2022
Call deadline
25/10/2022 02/02/2023 23/05/2023 08/11/2022
19
These dates are indicative. The Director of the European Research Council Executive Agency may open a call up to one month prior to or after the envisaged opening
date. The Director may delay the envisaged call deadline by up to two months. The budget amounts for 2023 are subject to the availability of the appropriations provided
for in the draft budget for 2023 after the adoption of the budget for 2023 by the budgetary authority, or if the budget is not adopted, as provided for in the system of
provisional twelfths.
15 | P a g eStarting Consolidator Advanced Synergy
Grant Grant Grant Grant
Budget million EUR
(estimated number of 628 595 597 300
grants) (407) (300) (246) (30)
26/05/2023 07/07/2023 19/01/2024 04/05/2023
Planned dates to
inform applicants
25/08/2023 08/12/2023 19/04/2024 04/09/2023
after each step
14/11/2023
Indicative date for
signature of grant
23/12/2023 06/04/2024 17/08/2024 02/04/2024
agreements
16 | P a g eGrants
Objectives, maximum amount and All funding requested is assessed during
duration evaluation.
The objectives, maximum amount, and The profiles expected of applicant
duration of the main frontier research Principal Investigators for each main grant
grants awarded by the ERC are given in are described below.
the table below.
The maximum amount of the grants is
reduced pro rata temporis20 for projects of
a shorter duration21.
Additional funding22 up to the amounts set
out in the table below 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.
Additional funding is not subject to pro
rata temporis reduction for projects of
shorter duration.
20
For example, a maximum amount of EUR 2 500
000 for a duration of 5 years corresponds to a
maximum amount of EUR 2 000 000 for a duration
of 4 years.
21
This does not apply to ongoing projects.
22
Additional funding costs of the main grants are a
separate cost category in the Model Grant
Agreement used for ERC actions.
17 | P a g eMaximum amount
Grant Objectives and duration of the
grant
Up to
Starting Support for excellent Principal Investigators at the career
EUR 1 500 000
Grant stage at which they are starting their own independent
for a period of
research team or programme.
5 years.
Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-
Additional funding up to
breaking nature, ambition, and feasibility of their
EUR 1 000 000.
research proposal.
Up to
Consolidator Support for excellent Principal Investigators at the career
EUR 2 000 000
Grant stage at which they may still be consolidating their own
for a period of
independent research team or programme.
5 years.
Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-
Additional funding up to
breaking nature, ambition, and feasibility of their
EUR 1 000 000.
research proposal.
Up to
Advanced Support for excellent Principal Investigators at the career
EUR 2 500 000 for a
Grant stage at which they are already established research
period of
leaders with a recognised track record of research
5 years.
achievements.
Additional funding up to
Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-
EUR 1 000 000.
breaking nature, ambition, and feasibility of their
research proposal.
Up to
Synergy Support for a small group of two to four Principal
EUR 10 000 000
Grant Investigators to jointly address ambitious research
for a period of
problems that could not be addressed by the individual
6 years.
Principal Investigators and their teams working alone.
Additional funding up to
Synergy projects should enable substantial advances at
EUR 4 000 000.
the frontiers of knowledge, stemming, for example, from
the cross-fertilisation of scientific fields, from new
productive lines of enquiry, or new methods and
techniques, including unconventional approaches and
investigations at the interface between established
disciplines. The transformative research funded by
Synergy Grants should have the potential of becoming a
benchmark on a global scale.
Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-
breaking nature, ambition, and feasibility of their
research proposal. Principal Investigators must also
demonstrate that their group can successfully bring
together the scientific elements necessary to address the
scope and complexity of the proposed research question.
18 | P a g eProfile of the ERC Starting Grant career stage, including, e.g. significant
Principal Investigator publications (as main author) in major
international peer-reviewed multi-
A competitive Starting Grant Principal
disciplinary scientific journals, or
Investigator must have already shown the
significant publications in the leading
potential for research independence and
international peer-reviewed journals of
evidence of maturity, for example by
their respective field, or research
having produced at least one important
monographs. They may also demonstrate
publication as main author or without the
a record of invited presentations in well-
participation of their PhD supervisor.
established international conferences,
Applicant Principal Investigators should
granted patents, awards, prizes, or any
also be able to demonstrate a promising
other scientific achievements they deem
track record of early achievements
relevant in relation to their research field
appropriate to their research field and
and project.
Early achievements track record
In the Track record (see “Proposal description”), the applicant Principal Investigator should
list (if applicable, and in addition to any other scientific achievements deemed relevant by the
applicant in relation to their research field and project):
1. Up to five publications in major international peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary scientific
journals and/or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals, peer-reviewed
conferences proceedings and/or monographs of their respective research fields, highlighting
those as main author or without the presence as co-author of their PhD supervisor (properly
referenced, field relevant bibliometric indicators23 may also be included); preprints may be
included, if freely available from a preprint server (preprints should be properly referenced
and either a link to the preprint or a DOI should be provided);
2. Research monographs and any translations thereof;
3. Granted patent(s);
4. Invited presentations to internationally established conferences and/or international
advanced schools;
5. Prizes, awards, academy memberships.
23
Except the Journal Impact Factor.
19 | P a g eProfile of the ERC Consolidator author) in major international peer-
Grant Principal Investigator reviewed multi-disciplinary scientific
journals, or significant publications in the
A competitive Consolidator Grant Principal leading international peer-reviewed
Investigator must have already shown journals of their respective field, or
research independence and evidence of research monographs. They may also
maturity, for example by having produced demonstrate a record of invited
several important publications as main presentations in well-established
author or without the participation of international conferences, granted
their PhD supervisor. Applicant Principal patents, awards, prizes, or any other
Investigators should also be able to scientific achievements they deem
demonstrate a promising track record of relevant in relation to their research field
early achievements appropriate to their and project.
research field and career stage, including,
e.g. significant publications (as main
Early achievements track record
In the Track Record (see “Proposal description”), the applicant Principal Investigator should
list (if applicable, and in addition to any other scientific achievements deemed relevant by the
applicant in relation to their research field and project):
1. Up to ten publications in major international peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary scientific
journals and/or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals, peer-reviewed
conferences proceedings and/or monographs of their respective research fields, highlighting
those as main author or without the presence as co-author of their PhD supervisor (properly
referenced, field relevant bibliometric indicators24 may also be included); preprints may be
included, if freely available from a preprint server (preprints should be properly referenced
and either a link to the preprint or a DOI should be provided);
2. Research monographs and any translations thereof;
3. Granted patent(s);
4. Invited presentations to internationally established conferences and/or international
advanced schools;
5. Prizes, awards, academy memberships.
24
Except the Journal Impact Factor.
20 | P a g eProfile of the ERC Advanced Grant as indicative of an exceptional record and
Principal Investigator recognition in the last 10 years:
A competitive ERC Advanced Grant 5 granted patents;
Principal Investigator is expected to be an 10 invited presentations in well-
active researcher and to have a track established internationally
record of significant research organised conferences and
achievements in the last 10 years, which advanced schools;
must be presented in the application.
3 research expeditions led by the
A competitive Advanced Grant Principal
applicant Principal Investigator;
Investigator must have already shown a
record, which identifies them as an 3 well-established international
exceptional leader in terms of originality conferences or congresses where
and significance of their research the applicant was involved as a
contributions. member of the steering and/or
organising committee;
Thus, in most fields, Principal Investigators
of Advanced Grant proposals will be International recognition through
expected to demonstrate a record of scientific or artistic prizes/awards
achievements appropriate to the field, and or membership in well-regarded
at least matching one or more of the Academies or artefact with
following benchmarks: documented use (for example,
architectural or engineering
10 publications as main author (or
design, methods or tools);
in those fields where alphabetical
order of authorship is the norm, Major contributions to launching
joint author) in major the careers of outstanding
international peer-reviewed multi- researchers;
disciplinary scientific journals,
and/or in the leading international Recognised innovation leadership.
peer-reviewed journals, and/or
If a Principal Investigator so chooses, their
peer-reviewed conferences
achievements over a longer period than
proceedings of their respective
the past ten years can be considered in
field;
the following circumstances, which should
3 major research monographs. be highlighted in their CV:
This benchmark is relevant to For maternity, the track record considered
research fields where publication can be extended by 18 months, or by the
of monographs is the norm. amount of leave actually taken before the
Other alternative benchmarks that may be call deadline, if longer, for each child born
considered (individually or in combination) before or during the last ten years. For
21 | P a g epaternity leave, the track record clearly explained in the career break
considered can be extended by the section of their CV.
amount of paternity leave actually taken
before the call deadline for each child
born before or during the last ten years.
For long-term illness25, clinical
qualification, or national service, the track
record considered can be extended by the
amount of leave actually taken before the
call deadline, and clearly explained in the
career break section of their CV, for each
incident which occurred during the last
ten years.
For applicant Principal Investigators who
have been unable to work due to a natural
disaster26, the track record considered can
be extended by the amount of leave
actually taken before the call deadline for
each incident which occurred during the
last ten years27, and is clearly explained in
the career break section of their CV.
For applicant Principal Investigators, who
have been unable to work due to seeking
asylum, the track record considered can
be extended by the documented time of
the Principal Investigator’s inability to
work during the last ten years28 and
25
Over 90 days for the Principal Investigator or a
close family member (child, spouse, parent or
sibling).
26
Large-scale geological or meteorological events
that have the potential to cause loss of life or
property.
27
For a minimum of 30 days.
28
The possible period of extension runs from the
start date of asylum/refugee application to the
date of decision on the applicant Principal
Investigator’s refugee status and/or receipt of
specific residence permit.
22 | P a g eTen-year track record
In the Track Record (see “Proposal description”), the applicant Principal Investigator should
list (if applicable, and in addition to any other scientific achievements deemed relevant by the
applicant in relation to their research field and project):
1. Up to ten representative publications as main author (or in those fields where
alphabetical order of authorship is the norm, joint author) in major international peer-
reviewed multi-disciplinary scientific journals and/or in the leading international peer-
reviewed journals and peer-reviewed conference proceedings of their respective research
fields (properly referenced, field relevant bibliometric indicators29 may also be included);
preprints may be included, if freely available from a preprint server (preprints should be
properly referenced and either a link to the preprint or a DOI should be provided);
2. Research monographs and any translations thereof;
3. Granted patents;
4. Invited presentations to internationally established conferences and/or international
advanced schools;
5. Research expeditions that the applicant Principal Investigator has led;
6. Organisation of international conferences in the field of the applicant (membership in the
steering and/or organising committee);
7. Prizes, awards, academy memberships;
8. Major contributions to the early careers of excellent researchers;
9. Examples of innovation leadership.
29
Except the Journal Impact Factor.
23 | P a g eProfile of the ERC Synergy Grant address the scope and complexity of the
Group proposed research question. Applicants
are expected to describe the contribution
Applications must be submitted by a of each PI, their team, and the resources
group of a minimum of two and a to achieve the objectives proposed.
maximum of four innovative and active
Principal Investigators, referred to as the One of the Principal Investigators must be
'Synergy Grant Group', with competitive designated as the Corresponding Principal
track records as appropriate to their Investigator.
career stage. Each Principal Investigator At any one time, one Principal Investigator
must present as part of the proposal an per Synergy Grant Group, except the
early achievement track-record or a 10- Corresponding one, may be hosted and
year track-record, whichever is most engaged by an institution outside of the
appropriate for their career stage (see the EU or Associated Countries.
profiles of the Starting, Consolidator and
Advanced Grant Principal Investigators The ERC expects the composition of a
and the section "Proposal description"). Synergy Grant Group to remain
unchanged throughout the lifetime of the
Synergy Grant Groups are expected to grant. If a Principal Investigator leaves a
demonstrate that they can successfully Synergy Grant Group, the grant may
bring together those elements – such as continue only exceptionally, subject to a
skills, knowledge, experience, expertise, scientific evaluation, and provided that all
disciplines, methods, approaches, teams, eligibility criteria will continue to be met.
access to infrastructures – necessary to
24 | P a g eFunding
Maximum amount of the grant, will cover actual costs or unit costs31
grant assessment, and Union depending on the cost category. The
amount of the awarded grant represents a
contribution
maximum overall figure – the final amount
The maximum grant amount varies to be paid must be justified on the basis of
depending on the grant type (see the costs incurred for the project and it
"Grants"). may be lower than the budget requested.
During the peer review evaluation, Purchases of equipment, infrastructure, or
evaluation panels will assess the funding other assets used for the action must be
requested by the applicant, including any declared as depreciation costs. Moreover,
request for additional funding (see an applicant can request to include in the
“Objectives, maximum amount, and Grant Agreement equipment,
duration”), against the needs of the infrastructure or other assets purchased
project before making any specifically for the action (or developed as
recommendation for funding. part of the action tasks) that may
exceptionally be declared as full
The funding requested must be fully capitalised costs32.
justified by an estimation of the real
project cost. The panels may suggest
modifications to the indicative budgetary
Call budgets
breakdown in the application, particularly
where they consider funding requests not For the Starting, Consolidator, Advanced,
to be properly justified. In such cases, they and Synergy Grant calls, an indicative
must explain in writing any such suggested budget will be allocated to each panel in
modification. proportion to the budgetary demand of its
assigned proposals in order to equalise the
The project budget is provided in EUR.
success rate across panels.
Eligible project costs will be reimbursed at
a funding rate of 100% for direct costs plus
a flat-rate of 25% for indirect costs30.
31
Costs for internally invoiced goods and services
Reimbursements will be budget-based and
directly used for the action may be declared as unit
costs.
32
Where needed for the viability of the action
(including its financial viability), and recorded
under a fixed asset account of the beneficiary in
30
Excluding the direct eligible costs for compliance with international accounting
subcontracting and internally invoiced goods and standards and the beneficiary’s usual cost
services. accounting practices.
25 | P a g eAdmissibility and eligibility criteria
The beneficiaries (and their actions) must The content of the proposal must relate to
remain eligible for the entire duration of the objectives and to the grant type set
the action. Costs and contributions will be out in the call, as defined in this Work
eligible only as long as the beneficiary and Programme. If a proposal is considered
the action are eligible. Applicants and not to relate to the objectives of the grant
beneficiaries must immediately inform the and/or call for proposals, it will be
services of the European Research Council declared ineligible.
Executive Agency (ERCEA) at any point in
Applications where the Principal
time of any events or circumstances,
Investigator proposes to commit less time
which would be likely to affect the
in the EU or an Associated Country, or to
fulfilment of the eligibility criteria.
the project than the minimum
The Principal Investigator will have the percentages set out in the section
flexibility to modify the budgetary "Minimum time commitment" will be
breakdown during the course of the declared ineligible.
project. Requests to modify the budgetary
If it becomes clear before, during, or after
breakdown of additional funding33 may be
the peer review evaluation phase that one
accepted only provided that such
or more of the admissibility or eligibility
modifications remain within the objectives
criteria have not been met, the proposal
for which the additional funding was
will be declared inadmissible or ineligible,
awarded.
and it will be rejected.
Admissible and eligible proposals
Where there is a doubt on the
All proposals must be complete, readable, admissibility or eligibility of a proposal, the
and accessible. They must be submitted by peer review evaluation may proceed
eligible Principal Investigators as defined pending a decision following an
below before the relevant call deadline. A admissibility and eligibility review
complete proposal needs to include all committee34.
parts or sections (see “Proposal
submission and description”). Proposals
which do not meet these criteria may be
declared inadmissible.
34
For further information, see applicable ERC Rules
of submission and evaluation under Horizon
33
As defined in the section "Objectives, maximum Europe, which can be found on the EU Funding &
amount and duration". Tenders Portal.
26 | P a g eEligible Scientific Fields
All scientific fields are eligible for ERC
funding35.
Eligible Principal Investigators
The ERC actions are open to researchers of
any nationality, who intend to conduct
their research activity in any EU Member
State or Associated Country36. Principal
Investigators may be of any age and
nationality, and may reside in any country
in the world at the time of the application.
Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, and
Synergy Grant proposals are submitted by
the Principal Investigator(s) taking
scientific responsibility for the project, on
behalf of the host institution. There are
specific eligibility criteria for a Principal
Investigator applying to the Starting or
Consolidator Grants based on the date of
the successful defence of their first PhD
(or equivalent doctoral degree37) as set
out in the table below. This “streaming”
allows applicants to be compared with
researchers at a similar career stage.
Groups of Principal Investigators applying
for the ERC Synergy Grant must fulfil the
conditions specified under “Profile of the
ERC Synergy Grant Group”.
35
Research proposals within the scope of Annex I
to the Euratom Treaty, namely those directed
towards nuclear energy applications, must be
submitted to relevant calls under the Euratom
Research & Training Programme.
36
See Annex 3.
37
See ERC Scientific Council's note on 'PhD and
Equivalent Doctoral Degrees' in Annex 2, including
specific provisions for holders of medical degrees.
27 | P a g eEligibility period:
Principal Investigator(s) who have successfully defended their first PhD
Advanced and
Starting Grant Consolidator Grant
Synergy Grant
> 2 and ≤ 7 years > 7 and ≤ 12 years
prior to prior to
1 January 2023 1 January 2023
Cut-off dates: Cut-off dates: No specific criteria
Successful defence of PhD Successful defence of PhD
between 1 January 2016 between 1 January 2011
and 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2015
(inclusive) (inclusive)
The date of the first PhD considered for the calculation of the eligibility period is the date of
the successful defence of the PhD degree.
The eligibility periods set out in the table above can be extended beyond 7 and 12 years for
the Starting and Consolidator Grants, respectively, for the following properly documented
circumstances38, provided they started before the call deadline:
- Maternity: 18 months extension for each child born before or after the date of the
successful defence of their PhD degree. If the applicant can document a longer total
maternity leave, the eligibility period will be extended by the documented amount of actual
leave(s) for all children taken before the call deadline.
- Paternity: extension by the documented time of paternity leave taken before the call
deadline for each child born before or after the date of the successful defence of their PhD
degree.
- Long-term illness39 or national service: extension by the documented amount of leave
taken by the Principal Investigator before the call deadline for each incident, which occurred
after the date of the successful defence of their PhD degree.
- Clinical training: extension by the documented amount of clinical training received by the
Principal Investigator after the reference date of the first eligible degree and before the call
deadline, up to a maximum of 4 years.
38
For applicants whose first eligible degree is their medical degree such incidents can be considered from the
date of completion of their medical degree.
39
Over 90 days for the Principal Investigator or a close family member (child, spouse, parent or sibling).
28 | P a g e- Natural Disaster40: extension by the documented time of a Principal Investigator's inability
to work41 before the call deadline due to a natural disaster, which occurred after the date of
the successful defence of their PhD degree.
- Seeking Asylum: extension by the documented time of the Principal Investigator's inability
to work before the call deadline due to seeking asylum42, which occurred after the date of the
successful defence of their PhD degree.
40
Large-scale geological or meteorological events that have the potential to cause the loss of life or property.
41
For a minimum of 30 days.
42
The possible period of extension runs from the start date of asylum/refugee application to the date of
decision on the applicant Principal Investigator’s refugee status and/or receipt of specific residence permit.
29 | P a g eMinimum time commitment
Principal Investigators funded through the main ERC grants must spend a minimum
percentage of their working time on the ERC project, and a minimum percentage of their
working time in a Member State or Associated Country43, as set out in the table below.
Minimum
percentage of the
Starting Consolidator Advanced Synergy
working time of a
Grant Grant Grant Grant
Principal
Investigator that
must be spent
30% for each
On the ERC project 50% 40% 30% Principal
Investigator
50% for each
Principal
Investigator
In a Member State or
50% 50% 50% engaged and hosted
Associated Country44
by an institution in
the EU or Associated
Countries
43
For further guidance, see the Annotated Model Grant Agreement on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal at:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/how-to-participate/reference-
documents;programCode=HORIZON.
44
See section "Eligible Host Institutions" regarding field work.
30 | P a g eEligible Host Institution established in that Member State or
Associated Country. Any type of legal
The host institution (Applicant Legal entity, public or private, including
Entity45) must engage and host46 the universities, research organisations and
Principal Investigator for at least the undertakings can host Principal
duration of the project, as defined in the Investigators and their teams.
grant agreement. It must either be
established in a Member State or To be eligible, legal entities from a
Associated Country47 as a legal entity Member State or an Associated Country
created under national law, or it may be that are public bodies, research
an international European research organisations, or higher education
organisation (such as CERN, EMBL, etc.), institutions (including private research
the European Commission's Joint Research organisations and private higher education
Centre (JRC), or any other entity created institutions) must have a gender equality
under EU law. In a Synergy Grant, one host plan or an equivalent strategic document
institution, except the corresponding host in place for the duration of the project.
institution, may be an international The gender equality plan or equivalent
organisation or a legal entity established must fulfil the mandatory requirements
outside the European Union or an listed in Annex 5 to this Work Programme.
Associated Country, subject to any
It is expected that the research project will
restrictions provided in Annex 3 to this
be implemented within the territory of the
Work Programme.
Member States or Associated Countries48.
International organisations with This does not exclude field work or other
headquarters in a Member State or research activities in cases where these
Associated Country will be deemed to be must necessarily be conducted outside the
European Union or the Associated
45
Countries in order to achieve the scientific
The applicant legal entity must have stable and
sufficient resources to successfully implement the objectives of the project/activity49.
projects and contribute their share. Organisations
participating in several projects must have It is also expected that the host institution
sufficient capacity to implement all these projects. will be the only participating legal entity in
Information on financial capacity checks is
provided in the ERC Rules for Submission. the case of a Starting, Consolidator, or
Applicants that are subject to the administrative
sanction of exclusion or are in one of the exclusion
48
situations set out by the Financial Regulation are With the exception of Synergy Grant projects,
banned from receiving EU grants and can NOT when a Principal Investigator is hosted and
participate. Please see Articles 136 and 141 of the engaged by an institution outside of the EU or
Financial Regulation, as well as important Associated Countries (see "Profile of the ERC
information on possible exclusion and registration
Synergy Grant Group").
of economic operators in the Commission's Early
49
Detection and Exclusion System (EDES) on the final Time spent on such field work or other research
page of this Work Programme. activities may count as time spent in the EU or the
46
See footnote 12 above. Associated Countries for the purpose of the
47
See Annex 3. Principal Investigator’s time commitment.
31 | P a g eAdvanced Grant. In a Synergy Grant, up to
four Host Institutions may engage
Principal Investigators.
Where they bring scientific added value to Restrictions on submission of
the project, additional team members may proposals
also be hosted by additional legal
entities50, which may be established Thousands of high-quality proposals are
anywhere, including outside the European received each year and only outstanding
Union or Associated Countries, or proposals are likely to be funded. In order
international organisations, subject to any to maintain the quality and integrity of
restrictions provided in Annex 3 to this ERC’s evaluation process, the Scientific
Work Programme. Council decided to introduce restrictions
on applications from 2009. These
Legal entities established outside the restrictions were extended from 2015.
European Union or an Associated Country
are eligible for funding when they are one The following restrictions apply:
of the host institutions in a Synergy Grant
at any one time51, or when they host A researcher may participate as
additional team members, provided that Principal Investigator52 in only one
they are not excluded from participation main frontier research grant at any
or covered by Council restrictive measures one time53;
as set out in Annex 3 to this Work
A researcher participating as
Programme.
Principal Investigator in one of the
Other legal entities established outside main frontier research grants may
the European Union or Associated not submit another proposal for a
Countries may be eligible for funding main ERC grant, unless the existing
provided that their participation is project ends54 no more than two
deemed essential for carrying out the years after the call deadline;
action, and that they are not excluded
A Principal Investigator who is a
from participation or covered by Council
serving Panel Member for a 2023
restrictive measures as set out in Annex 3
ERC call or who served as a Panel
to this Work Programme.
52
Please also refer to Annex 3 - Countries Including all Principal Investigators supported
under the Synergy Grant.
Associated to Horizon Europe and 53
A new main frontier research grant project can
Restrictions Applying to Some Legal only start after the duration of the project fixed in
Entities. a previous grant agreement for one of the main
frontier research grants has ended.
50 54
Consortium agreements are not required for ERC According to the duration of the project fixed in
multi-beneficiary grants. the previous grant agreement of the main frontier
51
See “Profile of the ERC Synergy Grant Group”. research grant.
32 | P a g eMember for a 2021 ERC call may Inadmissible, ineligible or withdrawn
not apply to a 2023 ERC call for the proposals do not count against any of the
same type of grant55; restrictions in the table below.
A Principal Investigator may submit
proposals to different main
frontier research grant calls
published under the same Work
Programme, but only the first
eligible proposal will be evaluated.
Further restrictions for submission under
the ERC Work Programme 2023 are set
out in the table below. The Scientific
Council may decide in the light of
experience that different or comparable
restrictions will apply in subsequent
years.
The restrictions related to the outcome of
the evaluation in previous calls are
designed to allow unsuccessful Principal
Investigators the time necessary to
develop a stronger proposal.
The year of an ERC call for proposals refers
to the Work Programme under which the
call was published and can be established
by its call identifier. A 2023 ERC call for
proposals is therefore one that was
published under the Work Programme
2023 and will have 2023 in the call
identifier (for example ERC-2023-StG).
55
As an exception to this rule, Principal
Investigators who are not serving as Synergy Grant
2023 panel members can apply to the 2023
Synergy Grant call even if they served as Panel
Members for the 2020 Synergy Grant call. The
members of the ERC panels alternate to allow
panel members to apply to the ERC calls in
alternate years.
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