With the amendment to its 2026 ERC Work Programme, the ERC has launched the ERC plus grants, a new funding scheme aimed at supporting outstanding researchers from Europe and anywhere in the world with bold ideas and a vision for transformative research that goes beyond the scope of existing ERC programmes.
The new dedicated landing page on the ERC website is now available, providing clear and consolidated information about the call planned for 2026.
Watch the recording of the recent webinar on the ERC Plus where you can also find the responses to the questions raised during the webinar.
The ERC Plus Grants in a nutshell:
- Funding: Up to €7 million (lump sum)
- Duration: 4-7 years
- Number of Grants: 30 per year
- Open to all disciplines, with no quotas
- No pro-rata allocation
- No additional funding
Who can apply?
- Researchers at any career stage
- Must be based in the EU or plan to move there for the project
- Current ERC grantees can apply only after completing their existing grant
- Only one active ERC application at a time
Key objectives:
- Support visionary research that transcends incremental progress
- Encourage scientific independence and leadership
- Foster projects with transformative potential and global impact
Application timeline
- Call open: 2 June 2026
- Deadline: 2 September 2026