ERC: announced calls 2026 and webinar

Faculty information about ERC calls 2026

► On 10. 7. 2025 (15:00–16:00 CEST), ERC holds a webinar about these calls. Webinar webpage. Link to follow live.

If you consider submitting a project proposal to the upcoming calls ERC Starting Grants 2026 or ERC Synergy Grants 2026, please contact IMMEDIATELY the Project Management Department (Ludmila Součková, ludmila.souckova@natur.cuni.cz), if you aren’t already in touch with us.

Please, keep in mind that according to Rector’s Directive n. 23/2025 (in Czech), at least 1 month before the relevant deadline, an agreement must be reached between the applicant, the relevant department and the faculty management on the conditions under which the project will be carried out if successful in the ERC competition and this agreement must be approved by the Dean Advisory Board (Kolegium děkana); and a preliminary version of the full proposal must be sent to the University’s rectorate via the project department of the faculty also 1 month before the relevant deadline.

Please, contact us also if you plan or consider applying for any ERC grant even in a longer time frame (e.g. in 1–2 years), to be able to benefit from all the support offered to ERC applicants.
About ERC on Faculty of Science website – including information about support for (potential) applicants.

What is ERC?

Research funded by the ERC is expected to lead to advances at the frontiers of knowledge and to set a clear and inspirational target for frontier research across Europe. The grants support excellent Principal investigators (PIs) and their research teams. The PI must demonstrate ground-breaking nature of the proposal, it must not be a mere continuation of previous achievements. The proposal must have the potential to significantly influence the relevant research field, push its boundaries or open new research perspectives. The ERC research grants operate on a “bottom-up” basis without predetermined priorities. An ERC grant gives the PI long-term funding with high flexibility.

• ERC Starting Grants support PIs who are starting their own independent research team or programme. Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 1.5 million for a period of 5 years.
• ERC Consolidator Grants support PIs who are still consolidating their own independent research team or programme. Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 2 million for a period of 5 years.
• ERC Advanced Grants support internationally recognised PIs who are significantly influencing their research field. Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 2.5 million for a period of 5 years.
• ERC Synergy Grants support multidisciplinary projects of 2-4 PIs. Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 10 million for a period of 6 years.
• ERC Proof of Concept Grants support successful ERC grantees to verify innovation potential of results or ideas arising from a funded ERC project.

News published by Ludmila Součková (Project Management Department) on 9. 7. 2025.