Horizon Europe | ERC Starting Grant 2027
The ERC Starting Grant supports outstanding researchers early in their careers and helps them on their path to scientific independence. The goal is to empower researchers at an early stage and enable them to take the step toward leading their own research team or establishing an independent research program.
Applicants are expected have already shown evidence of the potential for research independence, for example, by having produced at least one important publication as its main author or a publication without the participation of their PhD supervisor.
ERC Starting Grant calls are open to all topics and disciplines. Applications are evaluated exclusively on the basis of scientific excellence. The evaluation is carried out by around 12–16 reviewers (panel members), who currently work in 28 groups (evaluation panels). The panels are assigned to one of three scientific domains:
- Physical Sciences and Engineering
- Life Sciences
- Social Sciences and Humanities
All ERC applicants must assign their project to one or two of the evaluation panels.
The evaluation takes place in two stages. In the first stage, a short proposal is evaluated by the respective ERC panel according to the sub-criteria of excellence of the project and excellence of the principal investigator. In the second stage, the evaluation is based on the complete application and - new in Horizon Europe - also with the help of an interview with the panel.
The deadline for submissions is 14 October 2026, 17 h.
More information is available at the Funding-Portal der EU or the website of the FFG.