European Research Council (ERC)
The European Research Council (ERC) awards highly competitive grants to excellent researchers who are setting up or consolidating their own research team or program. ERC grant applications can only be submitted in response to a Call for Proposals. Scientific excellence is the only evaluation criterion.
Consolidator Grants: 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. Consolidator Grants may be awarded up to € 2 million for a period of 5 years.
Advanced Grants: support outstanding and established research leaders to further expand their work. Applicants for the ERC Advanced Grants – called Principal Investigators (PI) – are expected to be active researchers who have a track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years. Advanced Grants may be awarded up to € 2.5 million for a period of 5 years.