The ERC stimulates investigator-driven frontier research in Europe through competitive funding across all fields, on the basis of scientific excellence. Both young and established researchers are eligible for this research programme. Researchers can apply for six different funding schemes:

• ERC Starting Grant;
• ERC Consolidator Grant;
• ERC Advanced Grant;
• ERC Proof of Concept Grant;
• ERC Synergy Grant
• ERC Plus Grant

All schemes have a bottom-up approach, which means that applications can be made in any field of research. The grants focus on ‘high risk, high gain’ research, so your proposal should be very ambitious.

Our expertise? Supporting world-class universities & innovative companies with Proposal Writing & Reviewing

Hezelburcht helps clients achieve their strategic, research and development, and financial aims through the acquisition of grants. Hezelburcht is a highly professional, full-service organisation and offers creative and innovative solutions. We seek to build and sustain long term, fruitful relationships with our clients, partners and employees.

More information about the ERC Grants

ERC Starting grant

The first type of the ERC grants is aimed at supporting researchers of any nationality with two to 10 years of experience after completing their PhD. The grant helps to establish their independence in research. Their scientific track record therefore needs to show great promise and is accompanied by an excellent research proposal. The starting grants provide up to € 1.5 million for a maximum period of five years.

ERC Consolidator grant

The ERC consolidator grant is aimed at supporting researchers of any nationality with vife to fifteen years of experience after the completion of their PhD. The scheme supports researchers to consolidate their independence by establishing a research team. They have an excellent scientific track record as well as an excellent research proposal that underline their ability to lead a research team. The consolidator grants provide up to € 2 million for a maximum period of five years.

ERC Advanced grant

The ERC Advanced grant scheme is focused at supporting researchers of any nationality who have a track record of significant research achievements in the last ten years. Researchers that have received this grant are the potential Nobel prize winners of the future. The grant supports established, leading principal investigators seeking for funding to pursue a ground-breaking, high-risk and high-gain project. The advanced grants provide up to € 2.5 million for a maximum period of five years.

ERC Proof of Concept grant

The ERC Proof of Concept (PoC) grant scheme is meant for researchers that have already received an ERC grant for their frontier research project. Researchers that additionally want to explore the commercial or social potential of their work can apply for the PoC grant scheme. Researchers with an ERC grant (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced or Synergy)  can apply for a PoC grant. The grants provide up to € 150.000,- for a period of eighteen months.

ERC Synergy grant

The last type of the ERC grant schemes is aimed at groups of two to four principal researchers working together and combining different skills and resources to tackle ambitious research problems. Researchers must have an early achievement track record or a ten-year track record. This provides up to € 10 million for a maximum period of six years.

ERC Plus Grant

The ERC Plus Grant is a new pilot funding scheme launched in June 2026. It targets outstanding principal investigators at any career stage with ideas that go beyond the scope of a regular ERC grant. For example, research that aims to transform an entire field or open entirely new avenues of investigation. The grant provides up to € 7 million as a lump sum for a project duration of four to seven years. With only approximately 30 grants awarded per year across all disciplines and nationalities, this scheme is exceptionally competitive.

When to apply for the ERC Grants?

ERC work programme 2027

The ERC grants, in the ERC work programme 2027, have the following opening dates and deadlines:

• Starting Grant (ERC-2027-StG) – Opens on 22 July 2026, deadline: 14 October 2026
• Consolidator Grant (ERC-2027-CoG) – Opens 24 September 2026, deadline 12 January 2027
• Advanced Grant (ERC-2027-AdG) – Opens 27 May 2027, deadline 26 August 2027
• Synergy Grant (ERC-2027-SyG) – Opens 17 February 2027, deadline 11 May 2027
• Plus Grant (ERC-2027-PLUS) – Opens 1 June 2027, deadline 1 September 2027
• Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2027-PoC) – Opens 12 November 2026, cut-off dates are: 10 March 2027 and 16 September 2027

ERC work programme 2026

The ERC grants, in the ERC work programme 2026, have the following opening dates and deadlines. Note: most of them are already closed.

• Starting Grant (ERC-2026-StG) – Opens on 9 July 2025, deadline: 14 October 2025
• Consolidator Grant (ERC-2026-CoG) – Opens 25 September 2025, deadline 13 January 2026
• Advanced Grant (ERC-2026-AdG) – Opens 28 May 2026, deadline 27 August 2026
• Synergy Grant (ERC-2026-SyG) – Opens 10 July 2025, deadline 5 November 2025
• Plus Grant (ERC-2026-PLUS) – Opens 2 June 2026, deadline 2 September 2026
• Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2026-PoC) – Opens 13 November 2025, cut-off dates are: 17 March 2026 and 17 September 2026

Excellent track record and years of experience

Hezelburcht supports universities and research institutes with their grant acquisition strategy. For ERC grant proposals, our service is aimed at reviewing your proposal. However, our specialists also provide grant identification, feasibility assessment, grant writing or grant management.

Our team of grant specialists consist of ambitious and entrepreneurial experts with high-quality backgrounds. The specialists speak the clients’ language and their backgrounds match the clients’ sectors. The scientific backgrounds range from Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Health and Nutrition, Oncology, Biology, eHealth to Neuroscience.

Hezelburcht supports more than 30 ERC candidates with their ERC proposals each year.

More information?

Are you interested in applying or would you like to receive more information about our services? Our specialists would be pleased to support you in applying for ERC grants. Contact us via info@hezelburcht.com or 088 495 20 00 for an introduction meeting.