ERC's Starting Independent Researcher Grant

The ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant ("Starting Grants") aims at supporting young researchers seeking to establish themselves in Europe. The purpose is to identify the most eminent young researchers in Europe, and help them obtain positions as directors of research or principal scientific officers. 

Calls


Annual call are planned - check ERC´s website for more information.

ERC has made the following changes regarding eligibility for the third call for Starting Grants:

  • Wider eligibility window — 2-12 years after PhD
  • Applicants will be assessed in two streams, "starters" (award of PhD from 2 to 7 years prior to call publication) or "consolidators" (award of PhD over 7 and up to 12 years prior to call publication).
  • Resubmission restrictions - only proposals evaluated above the quality threshold at the end of step 1 of the evaluation can submit a proposal to next call.

ERC has also decided to more clearly explain what is expected from the applicants in terms of track record — at least one first/last author paper without the PhD supervisor as co-author.

The budget for the call is 730 Mio €.

Grant facts


Funding per Grant: Up to € 1,5 Mio
Duration: Up to 5 years
Research fields: Any field of science, engineering & scholarship
Evaluation Criteria: Scientific Excellence

Review process


Initially, the applicants submit a full application with CV, synopsis, full research plan, and a description of research environment. The review process is then done into two stages.

At the first stage of the evaluation only the extended synopsis of the project as well as the CV are peer-reviewed. The applicants of highest quality pass to the second stage, which means a second evaluation (of the full research plan and the quality of the Principal Investigator) and going to Brussels for individual interviews.

The budget is divided between different scientific domains accordning to: Physical Science & Engineering 44 %, Life Sciences 39 %, Social Sciences and Humanities 17 %

Contact


Enquiries regarding ERC grants can be sent to EU-officers at Swedish universities or directly to the European Commission via their Help desk (see link to the right). National Contact Points (NCP) in Sweden are Ana Beramendi at the Swedish Research Council.
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Contact: Tomas Gustavsson
Updated: 2011-08-29
The Swedish Research Council acts as a National Contact Point (NCP) towards ERC. ERC offers funding for both young and established researchers.
Västra Järnvägsgatan 3
Box 1035, SE-101 38  Stockholm
Telefon: +46(0)8-546 44 000
Fax: +46(0)8-546 44 180
Org nr: 202100-5208
Invoice address: FE 57, SE-833 83 Strömsund