The European Research Council (ERC) officially announced on 10 July 2023 the ERC Work Programme 2024, with the first Calls for Proposals already open: the Call for Proposals ERC Starting Grant 2024 (ERC-2024-StG) with deadline on the 24th of October 2023 (17:00 CET) and the Call ERC Synergy Grant 2024 (ERC-2024-SyG), with deadline on 8 November 2023 (17:00 CET). The ERC is part of Pillar I “Excellent Science” of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon Europe” 2021-2027.
ERC Starting Grants, support excellent researchers with 2 and up to 7 years after the award of their PhD, that will implement ground-breaking, frontier research. Funding can reach €1,5 million for up to 5 years, with the possibility to receive an additional €1m. in specific cases. The only evaluation criterion is scientific excellence.
ERC Synergy Grants support groups of 2 to 4 Principal Investigators that come together to address an ambitious research problem, combining their skills, knowledge and resources. The only evaluation criterion is scientific excellence of the proposed project, but also the PIs and the synergy between them. The funding can reach the amount of €10m. for up to 6 years, with the possibility for additional funding of €4m. in specific cases.
ERC has funded more than 13.000 excellent scientists, since its launch in 2007, having significantly affected scientific progress.
RIF can support interested researchers in the preparation of their ERC proposals, via proposal screenings, one-to-one support, access to the ERC Mentoring Initiative and the ERC Visiting Research Fellowship initiative and support during the interview stage. For more information, please contact Cyprus’ National Contact Points for the ERC, Ms Katerina Karakasidou (Tel.: 22205036, Email: kkarakasidou@research.org.cy) and Dr Ioannis Theodorou (Tel: 22205038, Email: itheodorou@research.org.cy).