Direct comparison
ERC Grants Compared: 4 Schemes
Compare ERC Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, and Synergy Grants: PhD-year eligibility, funding caps, duration, and PI requirements.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Starting Grant | Consolidator Grant | Advanced Grant | Synergy Grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility (years since PhD, 2026 calls) | 2-7 years | 7-12 years | No limit -- track record over ~10 years assessed | No fixed PhD-year rule -- assessed per PI's career stage |
| Number of PIs | 1 (single PI) | 1 (single PI) | 1 (single PI) | 2 to 4 PIs (one corresponding PI) |
| Maximum base funding | €1.5 million | €2 million | €2.5 million | €10 million |
| Additional funding available | Up to €1M (up to €2M if relocating from a non-associated third country) | Up to €1M (up to €2M if relocating from a non-associated third country) | Up to €1M (up to €2M if relocating from a non-associated third country) | Up to €4 million |
| Maximum duration | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 6 years |
| Primary applicant profile | Early-career researcher forming an independent team | Researcher consolidating an already-independent team | Established, senior research leader | Team of PIs whose combined expertise creates work no single PI could do alone |
| Host institution requirement | Public/private research org in an EU Member State or associated country | Same | Same | Same, per participating PI |
| Cost reimbursement | Up to 100% direct costs + 25% indirect | Up to 100% direct costs + 25% indirect | Up to 100% direct costs + 25% indirect | Up to 100% direct costs + 25% indirect |
| Evaluation criterion | Scientific excellence only | Scientific excellence only | Scientific excellence only | Scientific excellence, incl. demonstrated synergetic effect |
Common questions
FAQ
Can a researcher apply to more than one ERC scheme in the same year?+
The ERC restricts which combinations of grant type and prior-application history a PI may submit in a given call, including resubmission cooling-off periods for previously rejected proposals. These rules vary by Work Programme year, so confirm the exact restrictions against the current call documents.
What is an ERC Proof of Concept grant?+
A separate, smaller top-up funding line open only to existing or former ERC grant holders, intended to help explore the commercial or societal application potential of results already generated under an ERC-funded project. It is not one of the four investigator-driven schemes compared here.
Does ERC funding require the PI to be an EU citizen?+
No. Eligibility is based on the host institution's location (an EU Member State or Horizon Europe-associated country), not the PI's nationality.
Why is the Synergy Grant ceiling so much higher than the other three?+
Because it funds a team of two to four PIs over a longer six-year period, rather than a single investigator over five years.
