ERC SYNERGY GRANTS

Researchers with a Hungarian host institution concerned by the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506 can continue to apply to ERC calls for proposals (e.g. ERC-2026-SyG, ERC-2026-STG, ERC-2026-COG, ERC-2026-ADG, ERC-2026-POC) after the 16 December 2022.

For successfully evaluated proposals, if these measures are not lifted at the time of the grant agreement signature, (following the procedure set out by Article 7 of Regulation 2020/2092), the concerned Hungarian entities would be found ineligible to receive Union funding. The applicant researchers concerned will then be informed about the available options to mitigate the consequences to their proposals, which will include the possibility to use portability.

Based on ERC Work Programme 2026PDF, section 1.4.3 Restrictions on Applicants, an applicant may submit proposals to different ERC main frontier research grant calls published under the same Work Programme, but only the first eligible proposal will be evaluated. Please note, that an applicant whose proposal has been selected for funding and who is preparing a Grant Agreement under a call of the ERC Work Programme 2024 or 2025, may not apply for ERC-2026-STG, ERC-2026-COG, ERC-2026-ADG, or ERC-2026-SYG calls.

If a Principal Investigator (PI) submits proposals to different ERC main frontier research calls published under the same Work Programme, only the first eligible proposal will be evaluated. Ineligible or withdrawn proposals do not count against this limit. If a PI thus applies to the ERC-2026-SyG call and the proposal is eligible and evaluated, further applications to a StG, CoG or AdG call under the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF will not be evaluated. It is important to note that the year of an ERC call refers to the ERC Work Programme under which the call was made. It can be established by its call identifier, and it does not refer to a calendar year. A 2026 ERC call refers to any call published under the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and will include “2026” in its call identifier (for example ERC-2026-SyG).

Example: A proposal submitted to the ERC-2026-AdG call will not be evaluated if the PI had already applied to the ERC-2026-SyG call and the SyG proposal was considered eligible, even if the call deadlines are in two different calendar years (in 2025 for the SyG 2026 call and in 2026 for the AdG 2026 call).Note that it is possible to apply both to the ERC-2025-AdG call and to the ERC-2026-SyG call, even though the deadlines are in the same calendar year. In case the PI is selected for funding in the 2025 AdG call and the Grant Agreement is under preparation, the PI becomes ineligible to the 2026 SyG call. For further questions, please contact the ERC SyG mailbox (ERC-SyG-APPLICANTS@ec.europa.eu).

Based on the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF, Annex 2, first professional degrees will not be considered as PhD-equivalent, even if recipients carry the title "Doctor". Only Principal Investigators that have successfully defended a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree are eligible to apply for the ERC Starting and Consolidator Grants 2026 Calls. For more details, check the Information for Applicants to the Starting and Consolidator Grant CallsPDF.

For an ERC Synergy Grant (SyG), a minimum of two and maximum four Principal Investigators (PIs) (and their teams) can apply. More information about the ERC 2026 Synergy Grant (ERC-2026-SyG) call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF

A Principal Investigator (PI) can submit a proposal to the SyG call if their existing ERC project ends no more than two years after the SyG call deadline(see ERC Work Programme 2026PDF, section “Restrictions on Applications”). For the ERC-2026-SyG call, this means that the ongoing Grant has to end before 5 November 2027. A PI may hold only one ERC grant at any time. A new frontier research project can only start after the previous frontier research grant agreement has ended.

The ERC Synergy Grant (SyG) funding scheme imposes few eligibility constraints on applicants. There are no constraints regarding academic degrees, thus a PhD degree is not formally required. However, be aware that this is an extremely competitive call. Although the Synergy group is evaluated as a whole, each applicant Principal Investigator ideally should be competitive at their corresponding level in an individual ERC grant. More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call and eligibility requirements are available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2026 CallPDF.

Principal Investigators (PIs) with different profiles and in different career stages can apply to the ERC-2026-SyG call as long as they have competitive track records appropriate to their career stage. As part of the proposal, PIs must submit a CV and track record (see ERC Work Programme 2026PDF or Information for Applicants to the ERC-2026-SyG (Synergy Grant) callPDF).

The eligibility criteria,including the restrictions for submission, need to be fulfilled by all Principal Investigators (PIs) submitting a Synergy (SyG) proposal to the ERC-2026-SyG call under the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF. Please also note that any PI may participate as a PI in only one main ERC frontier research grant at any one time.

Researchers with a Hungarian host institution concerned by the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506 can continue to apply to ERC calls for proposals (e.g. ERC-2025-SyG, ERC-2025-STG, ERC-2025-COG, ERC-2025-ADG, ERC-2025-POC) after the 16 December 2022.

For successfully evaluated proposals, if these measures are not lifted at the time of the grant agreement signature, (following the procedure set out by Article 7 of Regulation 2020/2092), the concerned Hungarian entities would be found ineligible to receive Union funding. The applicant researchers concerned will then be informed about the available options to mitigate the consequences to their proposals, which will include the possibility to use portability.

For an ERC Synergy Grant (SyG), a minimum of two and maximum four Principal Investigators (PIs) (and their teams) can apply. More information about the ERC-2025-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF.

Principal Investigators (PIs) with different profiles and in different career stages can apply to the ERC-2025-SyG call as long as they have competitive track records appropriate to their career stage. PIs must then present, as part of the proposal a CV and Track record (see ERC Work Programme 2025PDF or Information for Applicants to the ERC-2025-SyG (Synergy Grant) callPDF).

The eligibility criteria,including the restrictions for submission, need to be fulfilled by all Principal Investigators (PIs) submitting a Synergy (SyG) proposal to the ERC-2025-SyG call under the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF. Please also note that any PI may participate as a PI in only one main ERC frontier research grant at any one time.

Researchers with a Hungarian host institution concerned by the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506 can continue to apply to ERC calls for proposals (e.g. ERC-2024-SYG, ERC-2024-STG, ERC-2024-COG, ERC-2024-ADG, ERC-2024-POC) after the 16 December 2022.

For successfully evaluated proposals, if these measures are not lifted at the time of the grant agreement signature, (following the procedure set out by Article 7 of Regulation 2020/2092), the concerned Hungarian entities would be found ineligible to receive Union funding. The applicant researchers concerned will then be informed about the available options to mitigate the consequences to their proposals, which will include the possibility to use portability.

A Principal Investigator (PI) can submit a proposal to the Synergy Grant call if their existing ERC project ends no more than two years after the SyG call deadline (see ERC Work Programme 2024PDF, section Restrictions on submission of proposals). For the ERC-2024-SyG call, this means that the ongoing Grant has to end before 8 November 2025.A PI may hold only one ERC grant at any time. A new frontier research project can only start after the previous frontier research grant agreement has ended.

Principal Investigators (PIs) with different profiles and in different career stages can apply to the ERC-2024-SyG call as long as they have competitive track records appropriate to their career stage. PIs must then present,as part of the proposal a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Track record (see ERC Work Programme 2024PDF or Information for Applicants to the ERC-2024-SyG (Synergy Grant) callPDF).

The eligibility criteria,including the restrictions for submission, need to be fulfilled by all Principal Investigators (PIs) submitting a Synergy (SyG) proposal to the ERC-2024-SyG call under the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF. Please also note that any PI may participate as a PI in only one main ERC frontier research grant at any one time.

Yes, every Principal Investigator (PI) involved in a Synergy Grant (SyG) proposal must be engaged and hosted by a Host Institution. In general, the Host Institutions should be established in one of the EU Member States or Associated CountriesPDF for at least the full duration of the project. In the ERC-2026-SyG call, with the exception of the corresponding Host Institution, it is possible to have one PI applying with a Host Institution outside the EU or Associated CountriesPDF. The Principal Investigators (PIs) must also spend 50% of their time in Europe, except the PI who is hosted by an institution outside the EU or Associated CountriesPDF. Other institutions outside the European Union or Associated CountriesPDF may be involved as additional beneficiaries to the grant and may even receive funding, provided that their participation is deemed essential and that they are not covered by Council sanctions as set in Annex 3 to the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF. In addition, their participation must be well justified in the proposal. More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF.

Yes. In case of a Synergy Grant (e.g. ERC-2026-SyG), one of the Principal Investigators (PIs), with the exception of the corresponding PI, can apply with a Host Institution outside the European Union or an Associated CountryPDF. Note that except the PI applying with an outside country Host Institution, each PI has to spend at least 50% of their working time in an EU Member State or Associated CountryPDF. All PIs have to devote at least 30% of their working time to the ERC-funded project, regardless of the country they work in. See also the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF.

Yes. In case of a Synergy Grant (SyG), one of the Principal Investigators (PIs), with the exception of the corresponding PI, can apply with a Host Institution outside the European Union or an Associated CountryPDF to the ERC-2025-SyG call. Note that except the PI applying with an outside country host institution, each PI has to spend at least 50% of their working time in an EU Member State or Associated CountryPDF. All PIs have to devote at least 30% of their working time to the ERC-funded project, regardless of the country they work in. See also the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF.

Yes, a Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was not funded in the 2024 or 2025 Starting Grant (StG), Consolidator Grant (CoG) or Advanced Grant (AdG) calls, may submit a proposal to the ERC 2026 Synergy Grant call (ERC-2026-SyG). In other words, regardless of the score received in an individual main frontier research call prior to the ERC 2026 Synergy Grant call, you are eligible to apply. Further details in ERC Work Programme 2026PDF, section "Restrictions on Applications".

To be eligible for ERC calls (e.g. (ERC-2026-STG, ERC-2026-COG, ERC-2026-ADG, ERC-2026-SyG, ERC-2026-PoC), Host Institutions (HIs) – which can be public bodies, research organisations or higher education institutions (including private research organisations and private higher education institutions establishments) from an EU Member State or Associated CountryPDF-, must have a gender equality plan (GEP) or an equivalent strategic document in place for the duration of the project.

Please be aware that it is not necessary for the Host Institution to have the gender equality plan or an equivalent strategic document in place already at the time of the submission. The absence of a GEP will not affect the evaluation of the project. However, if the project is successful, a GEP or an equivalent is required before grant agreement signature.

The information about the ERC-2026-SyG (Synergy Grants) call can be found in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF, in the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2026PDF call through the EU Funding & Tender Portal, and in the Information Package of the submission webpage for the relevant call and on the ERC website.

Not only. The ultimate goal of the ERC Synergy (SyG) scheme is to allow for a close and genuine collaborative interaction that will enable transformative research at the forefront of science, capable of yielding unpredictable and ground-breaking scientific results, leading to a result that is more than just the sum of Principal Investigators' individual contributions. More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2026 CallPDF.

No, the concept of a 'co-investigator' does not exist in the context of a SynergyGrant (SyG). All Principal Investigators (PIs) have an equal status, although there is a 'corresponding Principal Investigator' (cPI) as the administrative contact with the ERCEA. More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2026 callPDF.

Yes, at submission stage to the ERC 2026 Synergy Grant call, each Host Institution (not only the corresponding Host Institution) shall provide a support letter to the PI(s) hosted by them for at least the duration of the grant. The conditions offered by the Host Institutions, including the 'portability' of the grant, are the subject of a supplementary agreement between the Principal Investigator(s) and their respective Host Institution(s). More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2026 callPDF.

The exact interview details will be communicated to the successful Step 2 applicants shortly after the end of the ERC-2026-SyG (Synergy) Step 2 panel meetings in July 2026 before the start of the interviews on 7 September 2026. The interviews are planned to take place in person in Brussels. Regardless of the place of the interview, all PIs of a SyG group will be requested to participate at the interview. The length and interview format depend on the decision of the panels: interviews could last around 45 minutes in total. The panel may ask that applicants give a 7-10 minutes presentation on the proposed research project. The remaining time could be devoted to questions and answers on the scientific content and implementation of the project, modalities of collaboration among the Principal Investigators and the project's budget and resources, and so on. The presentation is an opportunity to elaborate on the synergies that the project aims to create. More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF

For the ERC 2026 Synergy grant (ERC-2026-SyG) call, please consult the section "Restrictions on Applications" of the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF. Please note that the restrictions concern an applicant PI, not the proposal. The restrictions apply to each of the Principal Investigators (PIs) and not only the corresponding Principal Investigator (cPI) of an ERC Synergy Grant.

To be eligible for ERC calls, Host Institutions (HIs) – which can be public bodies, research organisations or higher education institutions (including private research organisations and private higher education institutions establishments) from an EU Member State or Associated CountryPDF – must have a gender equality plan (GEP) or an equivalent strategic document in place for the duration of the project.

Please be aware that it is not necessary for the Host Institution to have already the gender equality plan or equivalent strategic document in place at the time of the submission and the absence of a GEP will not affect the evaluation of the project. However, if the project is successful, it will be necessary before the signature of the grant agreement.

To be eligible for ERC 2025 calls, host institutions –which can be public bodies,research organisations or higher education institutions (including private research organisations and private higher education institutions establishments) from an EU Member State or Associated Country– must have a gender equality plan (GEP) or an equivalent strategic document in place for the duration of the project. Please be aware that it is not necessary for the host institution to have already the GEP or equivalent strategic document in place at the time of the submission and the absence of a GEP will not affect the evaluation of the project. However, if the project is successful, it will be necessary before the signature of the grant agreement.

The information about the ERC-2025-SyG (Synergy Grants) call can be found in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF, in the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2025PDF Call through the EU Funding & Tender Portal, in the Information Package of the submission webpage for the relevant call and on the ERC website.

Yes, at submission stage, each Host Institution (not only the corresponding Host Institution) shall provide a support letter to PI(s) hosted by them for at least the duration of the grant. The conditions offered by the Host Institutions, including the 'portability' of the grant, are the subject of a supplementary agreement between the Principal Investigator(s) and their respective Host Institution(s). More information about the ERC-2025-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF and Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2025 callPDF.

No, the concept of 'co-investigator' actually does not exist in the context of a Synergy Grant (SyG). All Principal Investigators (PIs) have equal status, although there is a 'Corresponding Principal Investigator' (cPI) designated to be the administrative contact with the ERCEA. More information about the ERC-2025-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF and Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2025 callPDF.

Not only. The ultimate goal of the ERC Synergy (SyG) scheme is to allow for a close and genuine collaborative interaction that will enable transformative research at the forefront of science, capable of yielding unpredictable and ground-breaking scientific results, leading to a result that is more than just the sum of Principal Investigators (PIs)' individual contributions. More information about the ERC-2025-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF and the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2025 CallPDF.

The exact interview details are communicated to the successful Step 2 applicants shortly after the end of the ERC-2025-SyG (Synergy) Step 2 panel meetings in July 2025 before the start of the interviews on 8 September 2025. The interviews are planned to take place in person in Brussels. Regardless of the place of the interview, all PIs of a SyG group will be requested to participate at the interview. The length and interview format depend on the decision of the panels: interviews could last around 45 minutes in total. The panel may ask the applicants to give about 7-10 minutes presentation on the proposed research project. The remaining time could be devoted to questions and answers on the scientific content and implementation of the project, modalities of collaboration among the principal investigators and the project's budget and resources, and so on. The presentation is an opportunity to elaborate on the synergies that the project aims to create. More information about the ERC-2025-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF.

For ERC-2025-SyG, please consult the section "Restrictions on submission of proposals" of the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF. Please note that the restrictions concern an applicant PI, not the proposal. The restrictions apply to each of the Principal Investigators (PIs) and not only the corresponding Principal Investigator (cPI) of an ERC Synergy Grant.

Yes, a Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category B or C at Step 1 or as category A or B at Step 2 in the 2023 or 2024 Starting Grant (StG), Consolidator Grant (CoG) or Advanced Grant (AdG) calls (e.g., ERC-2023-STG, ERC-2023-COG, ERC-2023-ADG or ERC-2024-STG, ERC-2024-COG, ERC-2024-ADG) may submit a proposal to the ERC 2025 Synergy Grant SyG call (ERC-2025-SyG). In other words, regardless of the score received in an individual main frontier research call prior to the ERC 2025 Synergy Grant call, you are eligible to apply. Further details in ERC Work Programme 2025PDF, section "Restrictions on submission of proposals".

The information about the ERC-2024-SyG (Synergy Grant) call can be found in the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF, in the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2024PDF Call through the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal, in the Information Package of the submission webpage for the relevant call and on the ERC website.

For ERC-2024-SyG, please consult the section "Restrictions on submission of proposals" of the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF. Please note that the restrictions concern an applicant PI, not the proposal. The restrictions apply to each of the Principal Investigators (PIs) and not only the corresponding Principal Investigator (cPI) of an ERC Synergy Grant.

Yes, a Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category B or C at Step 1 or as category A or B at Step 2 in the 2022 or 2023 Starting Grant (StG), Consolidator Grant (CoG) or Advanced Grant (AdG) calls (e.g., ERC-2022-STG, ERC-2022-COG, ERC-2022-ADG or ERC-2023-STG, ERC-2023-COG, ERC-2023-ADG) may submit a proposal to the ERC 2024 Synergy Grant (SyG) call. In other words, regardless of the score received in an individual main frontier research call prior to the ERC 2024 Synergy Grant call, you are eligible to apply. Further details in the ERC Work Programme2024PDF, section "Restrictions on submission of proposals".

Yes, Principal Investigators submitting a proposal to any ERC call (e.g. for ERC-2026-STG; ERC-2026-COG; ERC-2026-ADG; ERC-2026-SYG; ERC-2026-POC; ERC-2026-PLUS) must have, at the time of submission, the written consent of all participants on their involvement and on the content of the proposal, as well as of any researcher mentioned in the proposal as participating in the project (either as team member, collaborator, other PI or member of the advisory board), should the proposal be funded. The ERC Executive Agency may request PIs to provide proof of the written consent (email, letter) at any time. See also the ERC Rules of submission and evaluation under Horizon EuropePDF.

In Horizon Europe,all interactions with the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) will take place online via the EU Funding & Tender Portal, under "My Area" (after EU Login).The handling of documents will be fully electronic as there is no need any more to exchange any paper document. The grants for the successful proposals submitted to the ERC 2026 calls (ERC-2026-STG, ERC-2026-COG, ERC-2026-ADG, ERC-2026-SyG, ERC-2026-PoC) will be prepared and then signed electronically. Requests of amendments will be prepared, submitted and either accepted or rejected electronically. All reports will have to be submitted for review via the EU Funding & Tender Portal. According to the various phases of the project lifecycle, the correct actors (HIs and/or PIs) will be informed via email that certain tasks must be performed in the EU Funding & Tender Portal. In case of the Synergy grants, the corresponding HI and PI are the main contacts with the Agency. Notwithstanding the above and in an effort to keep on offering a high-level service, we strongly encourage both the HIs and the PIs to contact the respective Agency staff for discussion in an informal way about any changes in their respective action. This is of utmost importance in order to avoid cancellation of documents or requests that are incomplete or incorrect. The name and surname of the ERC officer responsible for the PI's grant can be found in the EU Funding & Tender Portal. The officer can be easily contacted via the messaging tool embedded in the EU Funding & Tender Portal, allowing the PI (corresponding PI for the Synergy grants) to communicate directly with the officer without having to use emails. Furthermore, the ERCEA has set up a helpdesk to provide Principal Investigators with assistance and guidance throughout the lifetime of the project. The helpdesk can be contacted by email at ERC-C2-PI-HELPDESK@ec.europa.eu.

The term 'Synergy' cannot be defined in one single way. It is not the end goal, but rather the means to achieve the aims of a Synergy project. Synergy projects should generally involve composite teams that are capable of tackling bold new research themes that require novel approaches and unique fusions of researchers. Such teams are typically characterised by exceptional combinations of knowledge and skills, in which the 2, 3 or 4 Principal Investigators hold a central role. A Synergy project could incorporate novel multi- or trans-disciplinary approaches or innovative combinations of knowledge and skills in a single discipline or research field. Each Synergy proposal must demonstrate that its objectives can only be achieved through the specific combination of knowledge and skills brought together by the participating PIs. In other words, a major scientific question of pressing significance, an integrated team and the transformative scientific potential are crucial elements in conceiving a Synergy proposal. More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2026 callPDF.

Principal Investigators (PIs) can work at the same Host Institution (HI),or at different HIs within one country or at HIs based in different countries. HIs must be established in an EU Member State or Associated CountryPDF. In the 2026 Synergy Grant (SyG) call, with the exception of the corresponding PI and Host Institution, it is possible to have one PI applying with a Host Institution outside the European Union or an Associated CountryPDF. More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF.

Yes, the ERC adheres to the DORA (Declaration on Research Assessment) principles. When evaluating the track record of Principal Investigators for the ERC 2026 Synergy Grant (ERC-2026-SyG) call, peer reviewers concentrate on the scientific content of the publications, not on the identity of the journal. Although the ERC encourages submissions to major international peer-reviewed multidisciplinary or leading field-specific journals, this is not a focus in the evaluation process. As defined in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and in line with the DORA principles, applicants are requested not to include the Journal Impact Factor when listing their achievements. The Principal Investigators may include a short narrative description of the scientific importance of their research outputs describing the role that the Principal Investigator played in their production.

There are no specific requirements in this respect.The corresponding Host Institution is the one hosting the corresponding Principal Investigator (cPI). This PI is the 'primus inter pares' for the project and the main administrative contact point on behalf of the group. Principal Investigators are considered equal regardless of their Host Institution. More information about the ERC-2026- SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2026 callPDF.

Yes, for ERC SyG, a minimum of two and a maximum of four Principal Investigators (PIs) form a group, in which each PI can work with a team and/or collaborators who are either at the same institution or at different entities. More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2026 callPDF.

Applications to a Synergy Grant (SyG) call should indicate only keywords, and not panels, because there are no predefined panels in the Synergy evaluation. Please see the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and Information for Applicants to the ERC-2026-SyG (Synergy Grant) callPDF.

No, there are no specific requirements on the type of configuration. Being located in two different countries will not affect the chance of success. PIs have to demonstrate convincingly that there will be significant synergies and sufficient time spent together in close collaboration to enable achieving the aims of the project. More information about the ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and the Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2026 callPDF.

In Horizon Europe,all interactions with ERCEA will take place online via the EU Funding & Tender Portal, under "My Area" (after EU Login). The handling of documents will be fully electronic as there is no need any more to exchange any paper document. The grants for the successful proposals submitted to the ERC 2025 calls (ERC-2025-STG, ERC-2025-COG, ERC-2025-ADG, ERC-2025-SyG, ERC-2025-PoC) will be prepared and then signed electronically. Requests of amendments will be prepared, submitted and either accepted or rejected electronically. All reports will have to be submitted for review via the EU Funding & Tender Portal. According to the various phases of the project lifecycle, the correct actors (HIs and/or PIs) will be informed via email that certain tasks must be performed in the EU Funding & Tender Portal. In case of the Synergy grants, the corresponding HI and PI are the main contacts with the Agency. Notwithstanding the above and in an effort to keep on offering a high level service, we strongly encourage both the HIs and the PIs to contact the respective Agency staff for discussion in an informal way about any changes in their respective action. This is of utmost importance in order to avoid cancellation of documents or requests that are incomplete or incorrect. The name and surname of the ERC officer responsible for the PI's grant can be found in the EU Funding & Tender Portal. The officer can be easily contacted via the messaging tool embedded in the EU Funding & Tender Portal, allowing the PI (corresponding PI for the Synergy grants) to communicate directly with the officer without having to use emails, and providing Principal Investigators with assistance and guidance throughout the lifetime of the project.

In Horizon Europe,all interactions with ERCEA will take place online via the EU Funding & Tender Portal, under "My Area" (after EU Login).The handling of documents will be fully electronic as there is no need any more to exchange any paper document. The grants for the successful proposals submitted to the ERC 2024 calls (ERC-2024-STG, ERC-2024-COG, ERC-2024-ADG, ERC-2024-SyG, ERC-2024-PoC) will be prepared and then signed electronically. Requests of amendments will be prepared, submitted and either accepted or rejected electronically. All reports will have to be submitted for review via theEU Funding & Tender Portal. According to the various phases of the project lifecycle, the correct actors (HIs and/or PIs) will be informed via email that certain tasks must be performed in the EU Funding & Tender Portal. In case of the Synergy grants, the corresponding HI and PI are the main contacts with the Agency. Notwithstanding the above and in an effort to keep on offering a high level service, we strongly encourage both the HIs and the PIs to contact the respective Agency staff for discussion in an informal way about any changes in their respective action. This is of utmost importance in order to avoid cancellation of documents or requests that are incomplete or incorrect. The name and surname of the ERC officer responsible for the PI's grant can be found in the EU Funding & Tender Portal. The officer can be easily contacted via the messaging tool embedded in the EU Funding & Tender Portal, allowing the PI (corresponding PI for the Synergy grants) to communicate directly with the officer without having to use emails, and providing Principal Investigators with assistance and guidance throughout the lifetime of the project.

In Horizon Europe, all interactions with ERCEA will take place online via the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal, under "My Area" (after EU Login). The handling of documents will be fully electronic as there is no need any more to exchange any paper document. The grants for the successful proposals submitted to the ERC 2024 calls (ERC-2024-STG, ERC-2024-COG, ERC-2024-ADG, ERC-2024-SYG, ERC-2024-PoC) will be prepared and then signed electronically. Requests of amendments will be prepared, submitted and either accepted or rejected electronically. All reports will have to be submitted for review via the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal. According to the various phases of the project lifecycle, the correct actors (HIs and/or PIs) will be informed via email that certain tasks must be performed in the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal. In the case of Synergy grants, the corresponding HI and PI are the main contacts with the Agency. Notwithstanding the above and in an effort to keep on offering a high level service, we strongly encourage both the HIs and the PIs to contact the respective Agency staff for discussion in an informal way about any changes in their respective action. This is of utmost importance in order to avoid cancellation of documents or requests that are incomplete or incorrect. The name and surname of the ERC officer responsible for the PI's grant can be found in the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal. The officer can be easily contacted via the messaging tool embedded in the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal, allowing the PI (corresponding PI for the Synergy grants) to communicate directly with the officer without having to use emails, and providing Principal Investigators with assistance and guidance throughout the lifetime of the project.

Yes, Principal Investigators submitting a proposal to any ERC call must have, at the time of submission, the written consent of all participants on their involvement and on the content of the proposal, as well as of any researcher mentioned in the proposal as participating in the project (either as team member, collaborator, other PI or member of the advisory board), should the proposal be funded. The ERC Executive Agency may request PIs to provide proof of the written consent (email, letter) at any time. See also the ERC Rules of submission and evaluation under Horizon Europe.

Yes, for ERC SyG, a minimum of two and a maximum of four PIs form a group, in which each PI can work with a team and/or collaborators who are either at the same institution or at different entities. More information about the ERC-2025-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF and Information for Applicants to the Synergy Grant 2025 callPDF.

Principal Investigators (PIs) can work at the same Host Institution (HI), or at different HIs within one country or at HIs based in different countries. HIs must be established in an EU Member State or Associated CountryPDF. In the 2025 Synergy Grant (SyG) call, with the exception of the corresponding Host Institution, it is possible to have one PI applying with a Host Institution outside the European Union or an Associated CountryPDF. More information about the ERC-2025-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF.

Yes, the ERC adheres to the DORA principles. When evaluating the track record of the Principal Investigators submitting proposals to the ERC 2025 Synergy Grant (ERC-2025-SyG) call, peer reviewers are asked to concentrate on the scientific content of the publications in the evaluation process, not on the identity of the journal,even if the ERC encourages applicants to submittheir publications in major international peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journals, or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals of their respective field. As defined in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF and in line with the DORA principles, applicants are requested not to include the Journal Impact Factor when listingtheir achievements. The Principal Investigators may include a short narrative description of the scientific importance of their research outputsdescribing the role that the Principal Investigator played in their production.

Yes, Principal Investigators submitting a proposal to any ERC call (e.g. for ERC-2025-STG; ERC-2025-COG; ERC-2025-ADG; ERC-2025-SYG; ERC-2025-POC) must have, at the time of submission, the written consent of all participants on their involvement and on the content of the proposal, as well as of any researcher mentioned in the proposal as participating in the project (either as team member, collaborator, other PI or member of the advisory board), should the proposal be funded. The ERC Executive Agency may request PIs to provide proof of the written consent (email, letter) at any time. See also the ERC Rules of submission and evaluation under Horizon EuropePDF.

Applications to a Synergy Grant (SyG) call should indicate only keywords, and not panels,because there are no predefined panels in the Synergy evaluation. Please see the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF and Information for Applicants to the ERC-2024-SyG (Synergy Grant) callPDF.

Yes, the ERC adheres to the DORA principles. When evaluating the track record of the Principal Investigators submitting proposals to the ERC 2024 Synergy Grant (ERC-2024-SyG) call, peer reviewers are asked to concentrate on the scientific content of the publications in the evaluation process, not on the identity of the journal,even if the ERC encourages applicants to submit their publications in major international peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journals, or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals of their respective field. As defined in the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF and in line with the DORA principles, applicants are requested not to include the Journal Impact Factor when listing their achievements. The Principal Investigators may include a short narrative description of the scientific importance of their research outputs describing the role that the Principal Investigator played in their production.

A Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category C at Step 1 in the ERC-2024-SyG (Synergy Grant) call may not submit a proposal to the ERC-2026-SyG call. The same applies to a PI who received either a B or C at Step 1 in the ERC-2025-SyG call. A Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category B at Step 2 in any previous Synergy call may submit a proposal to the ERC-2026-SyG call. See the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF, section "Restrictions on Applications".

For ERC 2026 calls under Horizon Europe (e.g. for ERC-2026-STG; ERC-2026-COG; ERC-2026-ADG; ERC-2026-SYG; ERC-2026-POC; ERC-2026-PLUS), the information requested in Part A on the career stage of the Principal Investigator (PI) will not be provided to the reviewersl and will not be part of the evaluation. This data is gathered for statistical purposes and used to evaluate the Horizon Europe Programme as a whole. See also the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF.

To be eligible for calls with deadlines in 2026, legal entities from an EU Member State (MS) or Associated Country (AC) must have a gender equality plan (GEP) or an equivalent strategic document in place for the duration of the project. This information will not be provided to the reviewers, and it will not be evaluated. In the Part A online submission form, there is a ‘yes/no’ tick box question that the host institution’s contact person must fill in. Only public bodies, research organisations or higher education institutions (including private research organisations and private higher education institutions) must answer this question. This answer and the absence of Gender Equality Plan (GEP) at submission stage will not affect the evaluation of the proposal. The GEP or equivalent must fulfil the mandatory requirements listed in Annex 5 to the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF and will be necessary before the signature of the grant agreement (e.g. for ERC-2026-STG; ERC-2026-COG; ERC-2026-ADG; ERC-2026-SYG; ERC-2026-POC). See guidelines on Horizon Europe Guidance on Gender Equality Plans.

Yes, for the ERC Synergy Grant (ERC-2026-SyG) call, all Principal Investigators (PIs) whose proposal has been retained for Step 3 will be invited to an interview. It is highly recommended that all PIs are present at the interview to facilitate the assessment of the Synergy group. In very exceptional cases, if a PI is unable to attend the interview on site in Brussels (e.g.pregnancy, immobility due to illness, expedition, pandemic-related restrictions), the ERC offers alternative solutions for on-site meetings (e.g. videoor phone conference alternatives for a remote participation in the interview). More information aboutthe ERC-2026-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF.

Yes, a Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category A or B at Step 3 in the ERC 2024 and/or 2025 Synergy Grant calls (ERC-2024-SyG; ERC-2025-SyG) may submit a proposal to the ERC-2026-SyG call. Score restrictions apply only to applicants who received a C score at step 1 of the evaluation in the ERC-2024-SyG and/or a B or C at step 1 of the ERC-2025-SyG call. For other restrictions please consult the ERC Work Programme 2026PDF, section Restrictions on Applications.

For ERC 2025 calls under Horizon Europe (e.g. for ERC-2025-STG; ERC-2025-COG; ERC-2025-ADG; ERC-2025-SYG; ERC-2025-POC), the information requested in Part A on the career stage of the PI will not be provided to the reviewers of your proposal and will not be part of the evaluation. This data is gathered for statistical purposes and used to evaluate the Horizon Europe Programme as a whole. See also the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF.

To be eligible for calls with deadlines in 2024, legal entities from an EU Member State (MS) or Associated Country (AC) must have a gender equality plan (GEP) or an equivalent strategic document in place for the duration of the project.This information will not be provided to the reviewers and it will not be evaluated. In the Part A online submission form, there is a ‘yes/no’ tick box question that the Host Institution (HI)’s contact person must fill in. Only public bodies, research organisations or higher education institutions (including private research organisations and private higher education institutions) must answer this question. This answer and the absence of GEP at submission stage will not affect the evaluation of the proposal. The GEP or equivalent must fulfil the mandatory requirements listed in Annex 5 to the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF and will be necessary before the signature of the grant agreement. See guidelines op.europa.eu.

Yes, for the ERC Synergy Grant (ERC-2025-SyG) call, all Principal Investigators (PIs) whose proposal has been retained for Step 3 will be invited to an interview. It is highly recommended that all PIs are present at the interview to facilitate the assessment of the Synergy group. In very exceptional cases, in case a PI is unable to attend the interview on site in Brussels (e.g.pregnancy, immobility due to illness, expedition, pandemic-related restrictions), the ERC offers alternative solutions in case of on-site meetings (e.g. video or phone conference alternatives for a remote participation in the interview). More information about the ERC-2025-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF.

A Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category C at Step 1 in the ERC-2023-SyG or ERC-2024-SyG (Synergy) Grant call may not submit a proposal to the ERC-2025-SyG call. A Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category B at Step 1 or Step 2 in any previous Synergy call may submit a proposal to the ERC-2025-SyG call. See the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF, section "Restrictions on submission of proposals".

Yes, a PrincipalInvestigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category A or categoryB at Step 3 in the ERC 2023 and/or 2024 SynergyGrant calls (ERC-2023-SyG; ERC-2024-SyG) may submit a proposalto the ERC-2025-SyG call. The only restrictions on scores are on those applicants who received a C score at step 1 of the evaluation in the ERC-2023-SyG and/or ERC-2024-SyG call. For other restrictions please consult the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF, section Restrictions on submission of proposals.

To be eligible for calls with deadlines in 2025, legal entities from an EU Member State (MS) or Associated Country (AC) must have a gender equality plan (GEP) or an equivalent strategic document in place for the duration of the project. This information will not be provided to the reviewers, and it will not be evaluated. In the Part A online submission form, there is a ‘yes/no’ tick box question that the host institution’s contact person must fill in. Only public bodies,research organisations or higher education institutions (including private research organisations and private higher education institutions) must answer this question. This answer and the absence of GEP at submission stage will not affect the evaluation of the proposal.The GEP or equivalent must fulfil the mandatory requirements listed in Annex 5 to the ERC Work Programme 2025PDF and will be necessary before the signature of the grant agreement. See guidelines op.europa.eu.

Yes, for the ERC Synergy Grant (ERC-2024-SyG) call, all Principal Investigators (PIs) whose proposal has been retained for Step 3 will be invited to an interview. It is highly recommended that all PIs are present at the interview to facilitate the assessment of the Synergy group. In very exceptional cases, in case a PI is unable to attend the interview on site in Brussels (e.g.pregnancy, immobility due to illness, expedition, pandemic-related restrictions), the ERC offers alternative solutions in case of on-site meetings (e.g. video or phone conference alternatives for a remote participation in the interview). More information about the ERC-2024-SyG call is available in the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF.

A Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category C at Step 1 in the ERC-2022-SyG or ERC-2023-SyG (Synergy) Grant call may not submit a proposal to the ERC-2024-SyG call. A Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category B at Step 1 or Step 2 in any previous Synergy call may submit a proposal to the ERC-2024-SyG call. See the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF, section "Restrictions on submission of proposals".

Yes, a Principal Investigator (PI) whose proposal was evaluated as category A or category B at Step 3 in the 2022 and/or 2023 Synergy Grant calls (ERC-2022-SyG; ERC-2023-SyG) may submit a proposal to the ERC-2024-SyG call. The only restrictions on scores are on those applicants who received a C score at step 1 of the evaluation in the ERC-2022-SyG and/or ERC-2023-SyG call. For other restrictions please consult the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF, section Restrictions on submission of proposals.

For ERC calls under Horizon Europe (e.g. for ERC-2024-STG; ERC-2024-COG; ERC-2024-ADG; ERC-2024-SYG; ERC-2024-POC), the information requested in Part A on the career stage of the PI will not be provided to the reviewers of your proposal and will not be part of the evaluation. This data is gathered for statistical purposes and used to evaluate the Horizon Europe Programme as a whole. See also the ERC Work Programme 2024PDF.

The reporting requirements for ERC main frontier research projects granted under the Horizon Europe Programme (Starting Grant, Consolidator Grant, Advanced Grant or Synergy Grant: e.g., ERC-2026-STG, ERC-2026-COG, ERC-2026-ADG, ERC-2026-SyG) foresee two different reporting streams to cover the scientific aspects, on the one hand, and the financial aspects of the grant, on the otherhand, as described in Article 21 of the Model Grant Agreement used for ERC actions. Scientific reports are the sole responsibility of the Principal Investigator and are submitted via the Host Institution usually twice during the lifetime of an individual PI project (at mid-term and at the end).

In case of the Synergy grants running for 6 years, there are two intermediate reports and a final report. The financial reports are prepared by the Host Institution in consultation with the Principal Investigator and must usually be submitted 60 days after the end of each period. This report must include information on the use of resources and the general implementation of the project (see Article 21 of Model Grant Agreement used for ERC actions). At the end of a project, the Host Institution will also have to submit a Certificate on Financial Statements for each beneficiary (and linked third party) depending on the amount of the requested EU contribution to the costs claimed (if the entity requests a total contribution of EUR 430 000 or more – standard threshold). Both types of reports (Scientific and Financial) are prepared and submitted online via the EU Funding & Tender Portal.

In the case of Synergy Grants, the corresponding Principal Investigator assumes the primary responsibility for the scientific reporting and contribution to the financial reporting, while the other Principal Investigators must contribute to both the scientific and financial report (page 120 of Model Grant Agreement used for ERC actions).

The reporting requirements for ERC main frontier research projects granted under the Horizon Europe Programme (Starting Grant / Consolidator Grant / Advanced Grant or Synergy Grant: e.g., ERC-2025-STG, ERC-2025-COG, ERC-2025-ADG,ERC-2025-SyG) foresee two different reporting streams to cover the scientific aspects, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the financial aspects of the grant (except for the Advanced Grants 2024 and 2025 calls where, due to the introduction of the Lump Sum pilot, financial reporting is no longer required), as described in Article 21 of the Model Grant Agreement used for ERC actionsPDF.

Scientific reports are the sole responsibility of the Principal Investigator and are submitted via the Host Institution, usually twice during the lifetime of an individual PI project (at mid-term and at the end). In case of the Synergy grants running for 6 years, there are two intermediate and a final report. The financial reports are prepared by the Host Institution in consultation with the Principal Investigator and must usually be submitted 60 days after the end of each period; this report must include information on the use of resources and the general implementation of the project (see Article 21 of Model Grant Agreement used for ERC actions).

At the end of a project, the Host Institution will also have to submit a Certificate on Financial Statements for each beneficiary (and linked third party), depending on the amount of requested EU contribution to the costs claimed (if the entity requests a total contribution of EUR 430 000 or more – standard threshold).

Both types of reports (Scientific and Financial) are prepared and submitted online via the EU Funding & Tender Portal. In the case of Synergy Grants, the corresponding Principal Investigator assumes the primary responsibility for the scientific reporting and contribution to the financial reporting, while the other Principal Investigators must contribute to both the scientific and financial report (page 120 of Model Grant Agreement used for ERC actions).

The reporting requirements for ERC main frontier research projects granted under the Horizon Europe Programme (Starting Grant / Consolidator Grant / Advanced Grant or Synergy Grant) foresee two different reporting streams to cover the scientific aspects, on the one hand, and the financial aspects of the grant, on the other hand, as described in Article 21 of the Model Grant Agreement used for ERC actionsPDF. Scientific reports are the sole responsibility of the Principal Investigator and are submitted via the Host Institution usually twice during the lifetime of an individual PI project (at mid-term and at the end). In case of the Synergy grants running for 6 years, there are two intermediate and a final report. The financial reports are prepared by the Host Institution in consultation with the Principal Investigator and must usually be submitted 60 days after the end of each period; this report must include information on the use of resources and the general implementation of the project (see Article 21 of Model Grant Agreement used for ERC actionsPDF). At the end of a project, the Host Institution will also have to submit a Certificate on Financial Statements for each beneficiary (and linked third party) depending on the amount of requested EU contribution to the costs claimed (if the entity requests a total contribution of EUR 430 000 or more – standard threshold). Both types of reports (Scientific and Financial) are prepared and submitted online via the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal. In the case of Synergy Grants the corresponding Principal Investigator assumes the primary responsibility for the scientific reporting and contribution to the financial reporting, while the other Principal Investigators must contribute to both the scientific and financial report (page 120 of Model Grant Agreement used for ERC actionsPDF).