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.
Starting Grants: Researchers of any nationality with 2-7 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. Starting Grants may be awarded up to € 1.5 million for a period of 5 years.