ERC Starting Grants 2026: open call and internal guidelines

The European Research Council – ERC, has opened the call for proposals of ERC Starting Grants (ERC StG). These grants support researchers 2–7 years after PhD who are starting their own independent research team or programme. The deadline is 14. 10. 2025.

► ERC in now implementing some significant changes to proposal structure and evaluation, and plans changes of the ERC StG “eligibility window” from next year, see ERC: changes in the upcoming calls.

► The proposal templates have changed. Make sure to use the templates issued for this call.

Internal guidelines and earlier internal deadlines for the Faculty of Science CU for the ERC Starting Grants 2026

Preparation of a high-quality ERC proposal requires a lot of time, therefore, those who plan to apply in this call must be already working on their application – and be already in touch with the Project Management Department. If you consider applying in this call and have not yet contacted us, please contact the Project Management Department (Ludmila Součková, ludmila.souckova@natur.cuni.cz) IMMEDIATELY, or consider postponing your application until the next year.

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.

• ERC StG 2026 call on Funding & Tenders Portal – key information, links to relevant documents, link for proposal submission.
• ERC Work Programme 2026 – binding information about ERC calls in 2026 including ERC StG – applicants, as well as those interested in ERC, are strongly advised to read this document (it is concise, well-structured and it is easy to identify the parts relevant for you).
• Information for Applicants to the Starting and Consolidator Grant 2026 Calls – detailed instructions for proposal writing and submission.
• ERC webinar on 2026 calls (10. 7. 2025): recording.
• Brochure How to write a strong ERC proposal by the European Centre of the Charles University rectorate.
• Brochure ERC Grant Budget Example with recommendations for budget preparation Czech National Contact Points.
• Database of funded ERC projects – can be sorted e.g., by type of project or by evaluation panel.
• About ERC by the Czech National Contact Point – news, events etc.

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 StG support PIs who have defended their first PhD thesis 2–7 years prior to 1 January 2026 – i.e., have defended their PhD thesis from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2023, inclusive.
See also ERC: changes in the upcoming calls.
The eligibility period can be extended for several reasons, for example: parenthood, long-term illness, inability to work due to major disasters and other.

A competitive ERC StG applicant should have already shown the potential for research independence, for example by having produced at least one important publication in a major international scientific journal as main author or without participation of their PhD supervisor.

The grant may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 1.5 million for a period of 5 years and additional contribution up to EUR 1 million can be requested as “additional funding” e.g., for purchase of major equipment or extensive fieldwork).
If the PI is re-locating to the EU or an Horizon Europe associated country from elsewhere to take up their ERC grant, the “additional funding” can be up to EUR 2 million.

The ERC grants are one of the most prestigious grants in Europe. The success rate in ERC StG call 2024 was ca. 14.2% (source).

Restriction of resubmissions
PI whose proposal is evaluated as category C at Step 1 of the evaluation may not apply for an ERC grant in the 2 following years. PI whose proposal is evaluated as category B at Step 1 of the evaluation may not apply for an ERC grant in the 1 following year.

News published by Ludmila Součková on 10. 7. 2025.

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