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ERC: Empowering Breakthrough Science 

General information about the programme: 

European Research Council (ERC) is a funding organisation established by the European Commission to support excellent frontier research. ERC is highly prestigious, attractive and flexible funding scheme that allows researchers to freely choose the topic from any scientific discipline and to establish their own research team at any institution in the EU. The researchers (Principal Investigators, PIs) in any career stage must have a proven track-record of excellent scientific achievements. 

What is ERC? 

The European Research Council (ERC) is the most prestigious funding body in Europe for frontier research. It supports investigator-driven, bottom-up projects that push the boundaries of knowledge across all fields of science, with particular openness to high-risk/high-gain ideas. 

ERC grants are awarded solely based on scientific excellence – of the researcher and the proposed project. 

There are four types of erc grants:

See more information on ERC grants here.

Feature

Starting Grant

(StG)

Consolidator Grant

(CoG)

Advanced Grant

(AdG)

Synergy Grant

(SyG)
Target Group Early-career researchers starting independence Researchers consolidating independence Established leaders with significant track records Groups of 2–4 PIs tackling complex research problems
Years since PhD 2–7 years 7–12 years No formal limit; significant achievements in last 10 years No PhD-based limit; outstanding track record required
Max. Grant Amount €1.5M (+€2M extra) €2M (+€2M extra) €2.5M (+€2M extra) €10M (+€4M extra)
Project Duration Up to 5 years Up to 5 years Up to 5 years Up to 6 years
Eligibility Extensions Yes – maternity, illness, national service Yes N/A N/A
Submission Format Single PI Single PI Single PI 2–4 PIs jointly applying
Evaluation Phases 2 steps + interview 2 steps + interview 2 steps + interview 3 steps + interview
Host Institution EU/Associated Country EU/Associated Country EU/Associated Country At least one PI in EU/Assoc. Country; one outside EU possible
Scientific Excellence Sole evaluation criterion Sole evaluation criterion Sole evaluation criterion Sole evaluation criterion, including synergy value
Success Rate (avg.) ~15% ~12–14% ~11 % ~6 %

Why Should You Apply? 

  • Freedom to Explore: You define the topic. ERC supports curiosity-driven research with no predetermined priorities.
  • Prestige & Visibility: ERC grantees gain international recognition, enhancing their academic standing and career.
  • Substantial Funding: Up to €2.5 million (plus top-ups) for up to 5 years.
  • Team & Leadership: Build your own research team and lead a cutting-edge project in Europe.
  • Track Record of Impact: ERC-funded projects often lead to paradigm shifts, new disciplines, and major scientific advances.
  • Opportunity to get ERC CZ inf you jump into 2nd round of evaluation (cca 30 %)

Who Can Apply? 

ERC welcomes excellent researchers from anywhere in the world, provided they will carry out their research in an EU Member State or associated country. 

There are 4 main grant schemes: 

  • Starting Grant (StG): For early-career researchers 2–7 years after PhD. 
  • Consolidator Grant (CoG): For researchers 7–12 years after PhD. 
  • Advanced Grant (AdG): For established researchers with a proven track record. 
  • Synergy Grant (SyG): For 2–4 principal investigators tackling complex problems together. 

 

What Kind of Projects Get Funded? 

ERC funds groundbreaking research that: 

  • Opens new scientific horizons. 
  • Challenges current paradigms. 
  • Demonstrates a bold, ambitious vision with a clearly articulated high-gain potential. 

Incremental research does not get funded. 

Why Europe Needs You 

ERC’s mission is to make Europe a global leader in research. If you have a visionary idea and the ambition to drive science forward, ERC is your stage. 

 Ready to Take the First Step? 

  • Check your eligibility and identify the right scheme. 
  • Start crafting your bold scientific vision. 
  • Get in touch your Grant office – write to Petra. 

ERC Welcomes All SSH Disciplines 

ERC has no disciplinary silos. SSH researchers from across and beyond traditional disciplines are encouraged to apply. Examples of successful SSH topics include: 

  • Rethinking political trust in democratic societies 
  • Artificial intelligence and human values 
  • Postcolonial memory and cultural heritage 
  • Economic inequality and redistribution mechanisms 
  • Migration and identity in urban spaces 
  • Narratives of crisis in media and literature 

Useful Links 

Benefits for the applicants: 

UP is…

  • one of the top Czech universities according to international rankings
  • in possession of the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award – the university has been recognized as the best employer in the region
  • part of European universities networks (AURORA) that facilitate knowledge transfer and the opportunities for collaboration on international projects 

….and offers:  

 building an independent research lab

  • experience in managing Horizon Europe projects
  • modern infrastructure 
  • covered Social Security/Health Insurance and free public healthcare
  • wide range of employees benefits: catering allowance, sports and recreation centres, discounts on language courses, cultural events and many more
  • childcare services (UP Kindergarten)
  • location in the heart of the beautiful historical city of Olomouc, see more here.

How to boost your profile for ERC projects: 

 

Grant Office support scheme: 

  • We provide general information about the calls and how to apply
  • We offer administrative, conceptual and technical guidance on the proposal writing 
  • We’re available for individual consultations in person or via VC tools (MS Teams, Zoom)
  • We run regular weekly ERC meetings based on peer-to-peer discussions and feedback
  • We help with relocation to the Czech Republic
  • We administer the received grant 

Contact us: 

Send your CV and a short description of your project idea (max. 2000 characters) to Petra Vaculíková: petra.vaculikova@upol.cz