Can I apply to ERC Proof of Concept?

By country

• Can a company from an EU country apply?Yes
• Can a company from Poland (a Widening country) apply?Yes
• Can a company from the UK apply?Yes
• Can a company from Switzerland apply?Yes
• Can a company from Norway apply?Yes
• Can a company from Israel apply?Yes
• Can a company from Ukraine apply?Yes
• Can a company from Türkiye apply?Yes
• Can a company from Canada apply?NoOrganisations in Canada can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from Japan apply?NoOrganisations in Japan can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from South Korea apply?NoOrganisations in South Korea can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from the United States apply?NoOrganisations in the United States can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from India apply?NoOrganisations in India can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.

By organisation

• Can a founder without a company yet apply?NoNot open to a founder without a company yet. Only the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ERC main grant applies, on behalf of a host.
• Can a startup apply?NoNot open to a startup. Only the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ERC main grant applies, on behalf of a host.
• Can an established SME apply?NoNot open to an SME. Only the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ERC main grant applies, on behalf of a host.
• Can a mid-cap company apply?NoNot open to a mid-cap. Only the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ERC main grant applies, on behalf of a host.
• Can a large company apply?NoNot open to a large company. Only the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ERC main grant applies, on behalf of a host.
• Can a university apply?NoNot open to a university. Only the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ERC main grant applies, on behalf of a host.
• Can a research organisation apply?NoNot open to a research organisation. Only the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ERC main grant applies, on behalf of a host.
• Can a company apply on its own, without partners?Yes

By stage

• Can I apply with an idea or early research?Yes
• Can I apply with a proof of concept?Yes
• Can I apply with a prototype?Yes
• Can I apply with a pilot with real users?Yes
• Can I apply with a product on the market?Yes

The rules in full

Where you must be based

the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe

The host institution must be in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country (or be an international European research organisation). Entities in China cannot take part if the project touches one of the 10 EU critical technology areas. Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan are associated to Horizon Europe Pillar II only, so they do not count for this programme.

Who can apply

an individual researcher

Only the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ERC main grant applies, on behalf of a host. The host can be any legal entity, public or private, including a university, research organisation or company.

Alone or with partners

Alone

One PI per proposal. Synergy Grant PIs need the written consent of all the other PIs.

Stage

No set TRL

No TRL rule. The idea must come from your ERC-funded research.

Also required

You hold an ERC grant

What you get

grants, up to €150k

150,000 euros lump sum for 18 months.

Funding rate

Fixed lump sum of 150,000 euros; no co-funding