The European Research Council (ERC) decision to increase its support for leading researchers moving to Europe has been formally adopted. On top of its standard grants, the ERC offers additional ‘start-up’ funding to help new grantees establish their laboratories or research team in Europe.
This funding is now being doubled from up to €1 million to up to €2 million(see the updated work programme – page 18). This will apply already in the ERC Advanced Grant competition, which is due to open on 22 May 2025.
The increased funding aims to further help outstanding scientists from around the world by easing their transition and establishment in Europe. For example, a new ERC Advanced Grant recipient relocating from the United States, whose main grant can total up to €2.5 million, can now apply for up to €2 million in addition. These funding can be used to set up a laboratory or research team in the European Union or countries associated to Horizon Europe and/or purchase equipment needed to carry out their research for the grant.
As in the past, scientific excellence remains the only evaluation criterion at the ERC and researchers from outside Europe will compete on the same terms as other applicants. The additional funding can be granted provided it is scientifically justified.
The Scientific Council is introducing the increased funding in the upcoming competition for ERC Advanced Grants, which is scheduled to open on 22 May with the deadline for submissions on 28 August. It also intends to maintain this amount for all grant competitions in 2026 and 2027.
A dedicated webinar for UK applicants to the ERC Advanced Grant will be held on 10th June.
Registration link here
This measure comes in parallel with the European Commission proposal for substantial additional budget for the development of a new ERC funding instrument offering larger, longer-term grants. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced these ‘super grants’ on 5 May at the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ conference at the Sorbonne, Paris. The ERC Scientific Council welcomed this initiative and is currently defining the operational details.