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The ERC Consolidator Grants (ERC-2025-COG), part of the Horizon Europe programme, are designed to support exceptional Principal Investigators who are establishing their independent research teams or programmes. This funding opportunity aims to bolster research independence and facilitate ground-breaking proposals that demonstrate high ambition and feasibility.
Key Details:
- Opening Date: 26 September 2024
- Deadline: 14 January 2025, 17:00:00 Brussels time
- Funding Amount: Up to €2,000,000 over five years, with the possibility of an additional €1,000,000 for necessary costs related to the research project, including start-up expenses, equipment purchase, or major experimental costs.
Eligible Principal Investigators must have successfully defended their first PhD between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017, with the possibility of extending this period under documented circumstances. Applicants should demonstrate a strong track record of research independence, committing a minimum of 40% of their working time to the project and 50% within an EU Member State or Associated Country.
The ERC Consolidator Grant proposals must be comprehensive and include an extended synopsis, a detailed scientific proposal, and a host institution statement, among other documents. Proposals are evaluated based on their scientific excellence and relevance to the ERC objectives, ensuring that only high-quality applications receive funding.
This grant serves as a vital instrument for advancing innovative research within Europe, fostering a competitive environment that nurtures scientific talent and promotes cutting-edge discoveries. Interested applicants are encouraged to consult the ERC Work Programme 2025 for detailed admissibility and eligibility criteria, as well as guidelines for proposal submission.
Expected Outcome
The expected outcomes of projects funded through the ERC Consolidator Grants (ERC-2025-COG) are multifaceted, aimed at advancing scientific knowledge and innovation. Here are some key anticipated results:
- Advancement of Knowledge: The projects are expected to contribute significantly to the existing body of knowledge in their respective fields, addressing critical research questions and generating new insights.
- Research Independence: Successful applicants will establish and consolidate their independent research teams, fostering an environment that encourages innovation and creativity.
- Innovative Solutions: The projects may lead to the development of novel methodologies, technologies, or approaches that can address societal challenges or advance scientific understanding.
- Publications and Dissemination: Outcomes will typically include high-quality research publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at international conferences, and contributions to the broader scientific community.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The grants promote interdisciplinary research, encouraging collaboration among various scientific domains, which can lead to comprehensive solutions to complex problems.
- Capacity Building: The grants will enhance the research capacity of the host institutions, contributing to their long-term sustainability and impact in the research landscape.
- Training and Development: The projects will provide training opportunities for early-career researchers and students, nurturing the next generation of scientists.
- Broader Impacts: Beyond academia, the projects aim to foster societal benefits through potential applications in industry, policy-making, and public engagement, aligning with the EU’s broader goals for innovation and societal progress.
Overall, the ERC Consolidator Grants are expected to drive excellence in research, promoting breakthroughs that can have lasting impacts both within and beyond the scientific community.
Scope
Scope:
Objectives
The ERC Consolidator Grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they may still be consolidating their own independent research team or programme. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal.
A competitive Consolidator Grant Principal Investigator should have already shown evidence of research independence.
Size of ERC Consolidator Grants
Consolidator Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 2 000 000 for a period of 5 years. The maximum size of the grants is reduced pro rata temporis for projects of a shorter duration. (This does not apply to ongoing projects).
Additional funding up to EUR 1 000 000 can be requested in the proposal to cover the following eligible costs when these are necessary to carry out the proposed work: (a) "start-up" costs for Principal Investigators moving to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere as a consequence of receiving the ERC grant, and/or (b) the purchase of major equipment, and/or (c) access to large facilities, and/or (d) other major experimental and field work costs, excluding personnel costs.
Additional funding is not subject to pro rata temporis reduction for projects of shorter duration.
All funding requested is assessed during evaluation.
Profile of the ERC Consolidator Grant Principal Investigator
The Principal Investigators shall have successfully defended their first PhD at least 7 and up to 12 years prior to 1 January 2025. Cut-off dates: Successful defence of PhD between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017 (inclusive).
The eligibility period can be extended beyond 12 years in certain properly documented circumstances. See section Admissibility and eligibility criteria of the ERC Work Programme 2025.