ERC Work Programme 2021 - (European Commission Decision C(2021) XXXX of XXXXXX)
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(European Commission Decision C(2021) XXXX of XXXXXX)
ERC Work
Programme
2021
1|PageAbout this document
This document is the annual Work Programme for the European Research Council funded by
the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. It
is the legal document which sets out how the ERC will allocate its funding for the
corresponding year. It is established by the Scientific Council of the ERC and subsequently
adopted by the European Commission.
DISCLAIMER: The launching of the call for proposals contained in this draft Work
Programme is conditional upon the final adoption without significant modifications by the
legislative authority of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council
establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation,
laying down its rules for participation and dissemination (COM(2018)0435 – C8-0252/2018
– 2018/0224(COD)) and of the Decision of the Council on establishing the specific
programme implementing Horizon Europe - the Framework Programme for Research and
Innovation (COM(2018)0436 – C8-0253/2018 – 2018/0225(COD)), as well as to the final
adoption without significant modifications by the European Commission of this Work
Programme, of the European Research Council Rules of Submission, and the related
methods and procedures for peer review and proposal evaluation relevant to the specific
programme implementing Horizon Europe, and of the Commission Decision establishing
the European Research Council.
2|PageHow to apply for ERC grants
Principal Investigators who wish to apply for ERC grants need to do so through the EU
Funding & Tenders Portal, which contains all information on each call, as well as the contacts
of the National Contact Points who can provide information and personalised support in
national languages at:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home
More information on the ERC in general, including its mission and organisation, a description
of its funding schemes, a step-by-step application guide and details on funded projects is
available at:
http://erc.europa.eu/
At the date of the publication of the work programme, there are no countries associated to
Horizon Europe. Considering the Union’s interest to retain, in principle, relations with the
countries associated to Horizon 2020, most third countries associated to Horizon 2020 are
expected to be associated to Horizon Europe by the time the first grant agreements under
Horizon Europe are signed. In addition, other third countries may also become associated to
Horizon Europe during the programme. For the purposes of the eligibility conditions,
applicants established in Horizon 2020 Associated Countries or in other third countries
negotiating association to Horizon Europe will be treated as entities established in an
Associated Country, if the Horizon Europe association agreement with the third country
concerned applies at the time of signature of the grant agreement.
3|PageSummary of main features in 2021
This ERC work Programme is the first under the 2021-2027 European Union Framework
Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe.
The calls planning of this Work Programme differs from last year’s planning due to the
transition from the 2014-2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation to the
2021-2027 Framework Programme. Due to this transition, the Synergy Grants are not
available under the 2021 Work Programme. The award of Synergy Grants is likely to resume
as from Work Programme 2022. The ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant is currently under revision
by the ERC Scientific Council and does not appear in this Work Programme.
The ERC Scientific Council has reviewed the ERC panel structure to redefine the contours of
panels, enrich the descriptors and take into account previous application numbers. This also
resulted in the addition of two new panels: SH7 - Human Mobility Environment and Space
and PE11 – Materials Engineering. The updated panel structure is set out in Annex I of this
work programme. A full list of the new descriptors is given in the Information for Applicants,
which will be available when the calls under this work programme are published.
For Advanced Grant, applicant Principal Investigators whose proposals are retained for the
second step of the evaluation will be invited to present their proposal to the evaluation
panel.
Restrictions on applications will apply to the 2021 calls based on the outcome of the
evaluation of previous calls – see restrictions on submission of proposals under
“Admissibility and eligibility criteria”.
Finally, as from 2021 it is no longer possible for applicants to opt out of the submission of
Research Data Management plans.
4|PageIndicative summary of main calls from the 2021 budget1
Starting Consolidator Advanced
Grant Grant Grant
Call identifier ERC-2021-StG ERC-2021-CoG ERC-2021-AdG
Call Opens 25/02/2021 11/03/2021 20/05/2021
Call closes
24/03/2021 20/04/2021 31/08/2021
1
These opening dates and cut-off dates are indicative. The Director of the European Research Council Executive Agency may open a call up to one month prior to or after
the envisaged opening date. The Director may delay the envisaged deadline by up to two months. The budget amounts for 2021 are subject to the availability of the
appropriations provided for in the draft budget for 2021 after the adoption of the budget for 2021 by the budgetary authority or if the budget is not adopted as provided
for in the system of provisional twelfths.
5|PageStarting Consolidator Advanced
Grant Grant Grant
Budget million EUR
619 633 626
(estimated number of
(413) (317) (250)
grants)
Planned dates to 26/08/2021 22/11/2021 28/01/2022
inform applicants
after each step 20/12/2021 28/03/2022 13/05/2022
Indicative date for
signature of grant
19/04/2022 26/07/2022 10/09/2022
agreements
6|PageTable of contents
About this document 2
How to apply for ERC grants 3
Summary of main features in 2021 4
Indicative summary of main calls from the 2021 budget 5
Objectives and Principles of ERC Funding 8
ERC Frontier Research Grants 14
- Grants 15
- Funding 22
- Admissibility and eligibility criteria 23
- Proposal submission and description 30
- Evaluation procedure and criteria 32
Other Actions 36
Public Procurement 41
Indicative Budget 43
Annexes 45
1. Primary panel structure 46
2. ERC policy on PhD and equivalent doctoral degrees 50
3. Countries associated to Horizon Europe and restrictions applying to 52
some legal entities
4. Exclusion 53
Early Detection Exclusion System (EDES) 54
7|PageObjectives and
Principles of
ERC Funding
8|PageThe fundamental activity of the ERC is to transparency, fairness and impartiality in
provide attractive, long-term funding to the treatment of proposals. ERC calls are
support excellent investigators and their expected to be highly competitive.
research teams to pursue ground-
breaking, high-gain/high-risk research. Applications can be made in any
field of research
Research funded by the ERC is expected to
lead to advances at the frontiers of The ERC's frontier research grants operate
knowledge and to set a clear and on a 'bottom-up' basis without
inspirational target for frontier research predetermined priorities.
across Europe.
The ERC puts particular emphasis on the
Scientific excellence is the sole frontiers of science, scholarship and
engineering. In particular, it encourages
criterion on the basis of which ERC
proposals of a multi- or interdisciplinary
frontier research grants are
nature which cross the boundaries
awarded between different fields of research,
The evaluation of ERC grant applications is pioneering proposals addressing new and
conducted by peer review panels emerging fields of research or
composed of renowned scientists and proposals introducing unconventional,
scholars selected by the ERC Scientific innovative approaches and scientific
Council. The panels may be assisted by inventions.
independent external experts working
Independent researchers of any age
remotely.
and career stage can apply for
The ERC's peer review evaluation process attractive long-term funding
has been carefully designed to identify
scientific excellence irrespective of the The ERC awards funding to excellent
gender, age, nationality or institution of investigators looking to set up or
the Principal Investigator and other consolidate their own independent
potential biases, and to take career research team or programme, as well as to
breaks, as well as unconventional research already established research leaders.
career paths, into account. The evaluation
The ERC awards flexible, long-term
process ensures that Principal funding for a period of up to five years for
Investigators have the professional the Starting, Consolidator and Advanced
competences and qualifications required Grants3. The Scientific Council will review
to complete their proposed action.2 The funding conditions regularly to make sure
evaluations are monitored to guarantee
2
Applicants whose proposals are recommended 3
Up to six years for the Synergy Grants, which are
for funding are deemed to fulfil the operational however not available under this Work
capacity requirements of Article 198(3) of Programme.
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1046/2018 (the
'Financial Regulation').
9|Pagethat grants remain competitive both at The ERC is particularly keen to
European and international level. encourage excellent proposals
from Principal Investigators based
The maximum grant varies by grant type.
in non-associated third countries
An ERC grant can cover up to 100% of the wishing to carry out a project with
total eligible direct costs of the research a host institution in the EU or in
plus a contribution towards indirect costs, one of the Associated Countries.
in accordance with the conditions set out
in the Model Grant Agreement used for
ERC actions. The host institution must be established in
an EU Member State or Associated
ERC grants are portable 4 as described in Country, although the team members of
the Model Grant Agreement. any Principal Investigator, may be based
outside of the EU or an Associated
The ERC aims to use procedures that
Country (see “Eligible host institution”).
maintain the focus on excellence,
encourage initiative and combine The ERC frontier research grants
simplicity and flexibility with
aim to empower individual
accountability5. The ERC is continuously
looking for ways to improve its procedures researchers and provide the best
in order to fulfil these principles. settings to foster their creativity
Principal Investigators from The Starting, Consolidator and Advanced
Grants will support projects carried out by
anywhere in the world can apply
individual teams which are headed by a
for an ERC grant single Principal Investigator. ERC Synergy
ERC grants are open to researchers of any Grants awarded under Work Programmes
nationality who may reside in any country 2019 and 2020 supported small groups of
in the world at the time of the application. two to four Principal Investigators and
their teams.
The ERC supports individual
Principal Investigators. Support for
consortia is provided by other calls
under Horizon Europe.
4
Portability means that Principal Investigators may and used exclusively for the implementation of the
request to transfer their entire grant or part of it to project.
a new beneficiary, under specific conditions 5
Beneficiaries of ERC research grants are not
included in the Model Grant Agreement used for required to submit communication, and/or
ERC actions. These conditions may include dissemination and exploitation plans during project
provisions for the transfer of equipment purchased implementation.
10 | P a g eHost institutions must provide − manage the research and the
appropriate conditions for the funding for the project and make
appropriate resource allocation
Principal Investigator to
decisions;
independently direct the research
and manage its funding − publish independently as main
author and include as co-authors
An ERC grant is awarded to the institution only those who have contributed
that engages and hosts the Principal substantially to the reported work;
Investigator 6. Grants are awarded to the
host institution with the explicit − select and supervise the work of
commitment that this institution offers team members, including doctoral
appropriate conditions for the Principal candidates or others;
Investigator to independently manage the
− have access to appropriate space
ERC funded research. It is expected that
and facilities for conducting the
Principal Investigators will be able to start
research
their project within six months of receiving
an invitation letter from the ERC. − meet the time commitments
described in the grant agreement 9.
The host institutions must engage the
Principal Investigators for at least the Public or private institutions, including
duration of the grant. universities, research organisations and
undertakings can host the Principal
The conditions 7 offered by the host
Investigator and their team as long as the
institution or institutions, including the
principles indicated above are respected
'portability' of the grant, are the subject of
and the Principal Investigator is not
a supplementary agreement between the
constrained by the research strategy of
Principal Investigator and the host
the entity.
institution 8 and must ensure that the
Principal Investigator is able to:
− apply for funding independently;
6
Normally the Principal Investigator will be 8
This is supplementary to the ERC Grant
employed by the Host Institution, but cases where, Agreement and is described in the ERC Model
for duly justified reasons, the Principal Grant Agreement.
Investigator's employer cannot become the host 9
Time commitments will be monitored, and in
institution, or where the Principal Investigator is cases where the actual commitment is below the
self-employed, can be accommodated. The specific minimum levels set out in this Work Programme
conditions of engagement will be subject to (see "Minimum Time Commitment"), or the levels
clarification and approval during the granting indicated in the grant agreement (see "Proposal
procedure or during the amendment procedure for description" in the section "ERC Frontier Research
a change of host institution. Grants"), appropriate measures may be taken, up
7
These conditions are consistent with “The to and including grant reduction, suspension or
European Charter for Researchers” and “The Code termination in accordance with the grant
of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers”. agreement.
11 | P a g eThe ERC welcomes intellectual property rights to comply with
applications from Principal their open access requirements.
Investigators hosted by
In addition, beneficiaries of ERC frontier
private for-profit research
centres, including industrial
research grants funded under this Work
laboratories. Programme will automatically be covered
by the provisions on research data
management as set out in the Model
Host institutions are expected to make all Grant Agreement used for ERC actions. In
appropriate efforts to provide the particular, beneficiaries are required to
conditions to attract and retain scientists submit a data management plan within
and scholars of the calibre to be awarded the first six months of project
an ERC grant, within the framework implementation. These provisions are
provided by the Model Grant Agreement designed to facilitate access, re-use and
and any other available administrative and preservation of the research data
legal possibilities. generated during the ERC funded research
work.
Open science
Gender Balance
Open science is a core principle of the
ERC. The ERC is committed to the principle Under Horizon Europe, beneficiaries of
of open access to the published output of ERC grants must take all measures to
research, including in particular peer- promote equal opportunities between
reviewed articles and monographs. It also men and women in the implementation of
supports the basic principle of open access the action and aim for a gender balance at
to research data and data related products all levels of personnel assigned to the
such as computer code. The ERC considers action, as set out in the Model Grant
that providing free online access to all Agreement used for ERC actions. ERC
these materials can be the most effective Principal Investigators should also
way of ensuring that the fruits of the determine the relevance of integrating sex
research it funds can be accessed, read and gender analysis into their research.
and used as the basis for further research. Specific activities promoting equal
opportunities or gender balance or
Under Horizon Europe, beneficiaries of
covering the gender dimension of research
ERC grants must ensure open access to all
funded by the ERC can be considered as
peer-reviewed scientific publications 10
eligible costs where these costs are
relating to their results as set out in the
necessary for the implementation of the
Model Grant Agreement used for ERC
action.
actions. Beneficiaries must ensure that
they or the authors retain sufficient Ethical principles
10
This includes peer-reviewed long-text edited collections, critical editions, scholarly
publications such as monographs, book chapters, exhibition catalogues, or PhD theses.
12 | P a g eThe proposed research and innovation misrepresentation of data that may arise
activities must comply with ethical during the evaluation or throughout the
principles and relevant national, Union life cycle of an ERC funded project will be
and international legislation, including the addressed vigorously by the ERC within
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the the applicable legal and procedural
European Union and the European framework. Any breach of research
Convention on Human Rights and its integrity by Principal Investigators or
Supplementary Protocols. Particular beneficiaries may be sanctioned by
attention must be paid to the principle of measures such as the rejection of
proportionality, the right to privacy, the proposals from evaluation, requests for
right to the protection of personal data, measures to be taken by the host
the right to the physical and mental institution, reduction of the grant and
integrity of a person, the right to non- suspension or termination of grants.
discrimination and the need to ensure
However, the host institutions that engage
high levels of human health protection.
and host ERC Principal Investigators have
The proposed research and innovation
the primary responsibility for the
activities must have an exclusive focus on
detection of scientific misconduct and for
civil applications.
the investigation, and adjudication of any
Funding of human embryonic stem cell breaches of research integrity that may
research is possible within the ethical arise. Therefore host institutions are
framework defined in the Horizon Europe expected to have working structures in
Framework Programme for Research and place to uphold research integrity and to
Innovation 2021 – 2027 11. make all appropriate efforts to verify
that no allegations of scientific misconduct
Research Integrity are pending against any Principal
Investigator applying for or participating in
Research integrity is a core principle of the
ERC. It is essential to maintain and an ERC grant and to bring to the attention
of the ERC any such allegations or cases of
promote a culture of research integrity at
scientific misconduct.
all stages of the evaluation and granting
process to make ERC competitions fair and The ERC applies the same rigour to
efficient and to maintain the trust of both ensuring that its evaluation process is
the scientific community and society as a governed by principles of research
whole. integrity, in particular through rules on
Cases of scientific misconduct such as confidentiality and conflict of interest.
fabrication, falsification, plagiarism or
11
As set out in the Horizon Europe Regulation.
13 | P a g eERC Frontier
Research Grants
14 | P a g eGrants
Objectives, maximum amount and Investigators moving to the EU or an
duration Associated Country from elsewhere as a
consequence of receiving the ERC grant
The objectives, maximum amount and and/or (b) the purchase of major
durations of the frontier research grants equipment and/or (c) access to large
awarded by the ERC are given in the table facilities and/or (d) other major
below. experimental and field work costs,
excluding personnel costs.
The maximum amount of the grants is
reduced pro rata temporis 12 for projects of Additional funding is not subject to pro
a shorter duration 13. rata temporis reduction for projects of
shorter duration.
Additional funding14 up to the amounts
set out in the table below can be All funding requested is assessed during
requested in the proposal to cover the evaluation.
following eligible costs when these are
necessary to carry out the proposed work: The profiles expected of applicant
(a) "start-up" costs for Principal Principal Investigators for each frontier
research grant are described below.
Grant Objectives Maximum
amount and
duration of
the grant
Up to
Starting Support for excellent Principal Investigators at the career
EUR 1 500 000
Grant stage at which they are starting their own independent
for a period of
research team or programme.
5 years.
Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-
Additional funding
breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their scientific
up to
proposal.
EUR 1 000 000.
12
For example, a maximum amount of EUR 2 500 13
This does not apply to ongoing projects.
000 for a duration of 5 years corresponds to a 14
Additional funding costs of ERC frontier research
maximum amount of EUR 2 000 000 for a duration grants are a separate cost category in the Model
of 4 years. Grant Agreement used for ERC actions..
15 | P a g eUp to
Consolidator Support for excellent Principal Investigators at the career
EUR 2 000 000
Grant stage at which they may still be consolidating their own
for a period of
independent research team or programme.
5 years.
Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-
Additional funding
breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their scientific
up to
proposal.
EUR 1 000 000.
Up to
Advanced Support for excellent Principal Investigators at the career
EUR 2 500 000 for
Grant stage at which they are already established research leaders
a period of
with a recognised track record of research achievements.
5 years.
Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-
Additional funding
breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their scientific
up to
proposal.
EUR 1 000 000.
16 | P a g eProfile of the ERC Starting Grant track record of early achievements
Principal Investigator appropriate to their research field and
career stage, including significant
A competitive Starting Grant Principal publications (as main author) in major
Investigator must have already shown the international peer-reviewed
potential for research independence and multidisciplinary scientific journals, or in
evidence of maturity, for example by the leading international peer-reviewed
having produced at least one important journals of their respective field. They may
publication as main author or without the also demonstrate a record of invited
participation of their PhD supervisor. presentations in well-established
Applicant Principal Investigators should international conferences, granted
also be able to demonstrate a promising patents, awards, prizes, etc.
Early achievements track record
In the Track record (see “Proposal description”) the applicant Principal Investigator should list
(if applicable):
1. Up to five publications in major international peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary scientific
journals and/or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals, peer-reviewed
conferences proceedings and/or monographs of their respective research fields, highlighting
those as main author or without the presence as co-author of their PhD supervisor (properly
referenced, field relevant bibliometric indicators may also be included); preprints may be
included, if freely available from a preprint server (preprints should be properly referenced
and either a link to the preprint or a DOI should be provided);
2. Research monographs and any translations thereof;
3. Granted patent(s);
4. Invited presentations to internationally established conferences and/or international
advanced schools;
5. Prizes, awards, academy memberships.
17 | P a g eProfile of the ERC Consolidator early achievements appropriate to their
Grant Principal Investigator research field and career stage, including
significant publications (as main author) in
A competitive Consolidator Grant Principal major international peer-reviewed
Investigator must have already shown multidisciplinary scientific journals, or in
research independence and evidence of the leading international peer-reviewed
maturity, for example by having produced journals of their respective field. They may
several important publications as main also demonstrate a record of invited
author or without the participation of presentations in well-established
their PhD supervisor. Applicant Principal international conferences, granted
Investigators should also be able to patents, awards, prizes, etc.
demonstrate a promising track record of
Early achievements track record
In the Track Record (see “Proposal description”) the applicant Principal Investigator should
list (if applicable):
1. Up to ten publications in major international peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary scientific
journals and/or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals, peer-reviewed
conferences proceedings and/or monographs of their respective research fields, highlighting
those as main author or without the presence as co-author of their PhD supervisor (properly
referenced, field relevant bibliometric indicators may also be included); preprints may be
included, if freely available from a preprint server (preprints should be properly referenced
and either a link to the preprint or a DOI should be provided);
2. Research monographs and any translations thereof;
3. Granted patent(s);
4. Invited presentations to internationally established conferences and/or international
advanced schools;
5. Prizes, awards, academy memberships.
18 | P a g eProfile of the ERC Advanced Grant as indicative of an exceptional record and
Principal Investigator recognition in the last 10 years:
ERC Advanced Grant Principal − 5 granted patents;
Investigators are expected to be active − 10 invited presentations in well-
researchers and to have a track record of established internationally
significant research achievements in the organised conferences and
last 10 years which must be presented in advanced schools;
the application.
− 3 research expeditions led by the
A competitive Advanced Grant Principal
applicant Principal Investigator;
Investigator must have already shown a
record which identifies them as an − 3 well-established international
exceptional leader in terms of originality conferences or congresses where
and significance of their research the applicant was involved as a
contributions. member of the steering and/or
organising committee;
Thus, in most fields, Principal Investigators
of Advanced Grant proposals will be − International recognition through
expected to demonstrate a record of scientific or artistic prizes/awards
achievements appropriate to the field and or membership in well-regarded
at least matching one or more of the Academies or artefact with
following benchmarks: documented use (for example,
architectural or engineering
− 10 publications as main author (or
design, methods or tools);
in those fields where alphabetic
order of authorship is the norm, − Major contributions to launching
joint author) in major the careers of outstanding
international peer-reviewed researchers;
multidisciplinary scientific
journals, and/or in the leading − Recognised innovation leadership.
international peer-reviewed
If a Principal Investigator so chooses, their
journals and peer-reviewed
achievements over a longer period than
conferences proceedings of their
the past ten years can be considered in
respective field;
the following circumstances which should
− 3 major research monographs. be highlighted in the CV.
This benchmark is relevant to For maternity, the track record considered
research fields where publication can be extended by 18 months, or if
of monographs is the norm.
longer by the amount of leave actually
Other alternative benchmarks that may be taken until the call deadline, for each child
considered (individually or in combination) born before or during the last ten years.
19 | P a g eFor paternity leave, the track record clinical qualification or national service the
considered can be extended by the track record considered can be extended
amount of paternity leave actually taken by the amount of leave actually taken until
until the call deadline for each child born the call deadline and clearly explained in
before or during the last ten years. For the career break section of their CV for
long-term illness15, each incident which occurred during the
last ten years.
Ten-year track record
In the Track Record (see “Proposal description”) the applicant Principal Investigator should
list (if applicable):
1. Up to ten representative publications, from the last ten years, as main author (or in
those fields where alphabetic order of authorship is the norm, joint author) in major
international peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary scientific journals and/or in the leading
international peer-reviewed journals and peer-reviewed conference proceedings of their
respective research fields (properly referenced, field relevant bibliometric indicators may also
be included); preprints may be included, if freely available from a preprint server (preprints
should be properly referenced and either a link to the preprint or a DOI should be provided);
2. Research monographs and any translations thereof;
3. Granted patents;
4. Invited presentations to internationally established conferences and/or international
advanced schools;
5. Research expeditions that the applicant Principal Investigator has led;
6. Organisation of international conferences in the field of the applicant (membership in the
steering and/or organising committee);
7. Prizes, awards, academy memberships;
8. Major contributions to the early careers of excellent researchers;
9. Examples of innovation leadership.
15
Over 90 days for the Principal Investigator or a
close family member (child, spouse, parent or
sibling).
20 | P a g eFunding
Maximum amount of grant, grant The project budget is provided in EUR.
assessment and Union contribution Eligible project costs will be reimbursed at
a funding rate of 100% for direct costs plus
The maximum grant amount varies by a flat-rate of 25% for indirect costs16.
grant type (see "Grants"). Reimbursements will be budget-based and
will cover actual costs or unit costs
During the peer review evaluation,
depending on the cost category. The
evaluation panels will assess the funding
amount of the awarded grant represents a
requested by the applicant, including any
maximum overall figure – the final amount
request for additional funding (see
to be paid must be justified on the basis of
“Objectives, maximum amount and
the costs incurred for the project and it
duration of the awards”), against the
may be lower than the budget requested.
needs of the project before making any
recommendation for funding. Call budgets
The funding requested must be fully For the Starting, Consolidator and
justified by an estimation of the real Advanced Grant calls an indicative budget
project cost. The panels may suggest will be allocated to each panel in
modifications to the indicative budgetary proportion to the budgetary demand of its
breakdown in the application, particularly assigned proposals in order to equalise the
where they consider funding requests to success rate across panels.
be not properly justified. In such cases
they must explain in writing any such
suggested modification.
Admissibility and eligibility criteria
The beneficiaries (and their actions) must events or circumstances which would be
remain eligible for the entire duration of likely to affect the fulfilment of the
the action. Costs and contributions will be eligibility criteria.
eligible only as long as the beneficiary and
The Principal Investigator will have the
the action are eligible. Applicants must
flexibility to modify the budgetary
immediately inform the services of the
breakdown during the course of the
European Research Council Executive
project. Requests to modify the budgetary
Agency (ERCEA) at any point in time of any
16
Excluding the direct eligible costs for and any unit costs or lump sums which include
subcontracting, financial support to third parties indirect costs.
21 | P a g ebreakdown of additional funding17 may be eligibility criteria have not been met, the
accepted only provided that such proposal will be declared inadmissible or
modifications remain within the objectives ineligible and it will be rejected.
for which the additional funding was
Where there is a doubt on the
awarded.
admissibility or eligibility of a proposal, the
Admissible and eligible proposals peer review evaluation may proceed
pending a decision following an
All proposals must be complete, readable, admissibility and eligibility review
and accessible. They must be submitted by committee 18.
eligible Principal Investigators as defined
below before the relevant call deadline. A Eligible Scientific Fields
complete proposal needs to include all
All scientific fields are eligible for ERC
parts or sections (see “Proposal
funding19.
submission and description”). Proposals
which do not meet these criteria may be Eligible Principal Investigator
declared inadmissible.
The ERC actions are open to researchers of
The content of the proposal must relate to any nationality who intend to conduct
the objectives and to the grant type set their research activity in any EU Member
out in the call, as defined in this Work State or Associated Country 20. Principal
Programme. A proposal will only be Investigators may be of any age and
deemed ineligible on grounds of ‘scope’ in
nationality and may reside in any country
clear-cut cases. in the world at the time of the application.
Applications where the Principal Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grant
Investigator proposes to commit less time proposals are submitted by the Principal
in the EU or an Associated Country or to Investigator taking scientific responsibility
the project than the minimum for the project, on behalf of the host
percentages set out in the section institution. There are specific eligibility
"Minimum time commitment" will be criteria for a Principal Investigator
declared ineligible. applying to the Starting or Consolidator
If it becomes clear before, during or after Grants based on the date of award of their
the peer review evaluation phase, that first PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree 21)
one or more of the admissibility or as set out in the table below. This
“streaming” allows applicants to be
17
As defined in the section "Objectives, maximum relevant calls under the Euratom Framework
amount and duration of the awards". Programme.
18
For further information see applicable ERC rules 20
See Annex 3.
for submission and evaluation which can be found 21
See ERC Scientific Council's note on 'PhD and
on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Equivalent Doctoral Degrees' at Annex 2, including
19
Research proposals within the scope of Annex I to specific provisions for holders of medical degrees.
the Euratom Treaty, namely those directed towards
nuclear energy applications, must be submitted to
22 | P a g ecompared with researchers at a similar
career stage.
23 | P a g eConsolidator Advanced
Starting Grant
Grant Grant
> 2 and ≤ 7 years > 7 and ≤ 12 years
prior to prior to
1 January 2021 1 January 2021
No specific
Cut-off dates: Cut-off dates: criteria
PhD awarded from PhD awarded from
1 January 2014 to 1 January 2009 to
31 December 2018 31 December 2013
(inclusive) (inclusive)
The date of the first PhD considered for the calculation of the eligibility period isthe date of
the actual award according to the national rules of the country where the degree was
awarded.
The eligibility periods set out in the table above can be extended beyond 7 and 12 years for
the Starting and Consolidator Grants respectively for the following properly documented
circumstances 22, provided they started before the call deadline:
- Maternity: 18 months extension for each child born before or after the PhD award. If the
applicant can document a longer maternity leave, the eligibility period will be extended by
the documented amount of actual leave taken until the call deadline.
- Paternity: extension by the documented time of paternity leave taken until the call deadline
for each child born before or after the PhD award.
- Long-term illness 23 or national service: extension by the documented amount of leave
taken by the Principal Investigator until the call deadline for each incident which occurred
after the PhD award date.
- Clinical training: extension by the documented amount of clinical training received by the
Principal Investigator after the award of the first eligible degree and until the call deadline,
up to a maximum of 4 years.
22
For applicants whose first eligible degree is their medical degree such incidents can be considered from the
date of completion of their medical degree.
23
Over 90 days for the Principal Investigator or a close family member (child, spouse, parent or sibling).
24 | P a g eMinimum time commitment percentage of their working time in an EU
Member State or Associated Country as
Principal Investigators funded through the set out in the table below.
ERC frontier research grants must spend a
minimum percentage of their working
time on the ERC project and a minimum
Minimum
percentage of the
Starting Consolidator Advanced
working time of a
Grant Grant Grant
Principal
Investigator that
must be spent
On the ERC project 50% 40% 30%
In an EU Member
State or Associated 50% 50% 50%
Country 24
24
See section "Eligible Host Institutions" regarding field work.
25 | P a g e26 | P a g e
Eligible Host Institution It is also expected that the host institution
will be the only participating legal entity in
The host institution (Applicant Legal the case of a Starting, Consolidator or
Entity 25) must engage and host 26 the Advanced Grant.
Principal Investigator for at least the
duration of the project, as defined in the Where they bring scientific added value to
grant agreement. It must either be the project, additional team members may
established in an EU Member State or also be hosted by additional legal
Associated Country27 as a legal entity entities29 which may be established
created under national law, or it may be anywhere, including outside the European
an international European research Union or Associated Countries, or
organisation (such as CERN, EMBL, etc.), international organisations.
the European Commission's Joint Research
Legal entities established outside the
Centre (JRC) or any other entity created
European Union or Associated Countries
under EU law. International organisations
are eligible for funding when they host
with headquarters in a Member State or
additional team members, provided that
associated country will be deemed to be
they are not covered by Council sanctions
established in this Member State or
as set in Annex 3 to this Work Programme.
associated country. Any type of legal
entity, public or private, including Other legal entities established outside
universities, research organisations and the European Union or Associated
undertakings can host Principal Countries may be eligible for funding
Investigators and their teams. provided that their participation is
deemed essential for carrying out the
It is expected that the research project will
action and that they are not covered by
be implemented within the territory of the
Council sanctions (indicatively set in Annex
Member States or Associated Countries.
3 to this Work Programme).
This does not exclude field work or other
research activities in cases where these Please also refer to Annex 3 - Countries
must necessarily be conducted outside the Associated to Horizon Europe and
European Union or the Associated Restrictions Applying to Some Legal
Countries in order to achieve the scientific Entities.
objectives of the project/activity28.
25
The applicant legal entity must have stable and System (EDES) respectively in Annex 4 and on final
sufficient resources to successfully implement the page of this Work Programme.
projects and contribute their share. Organisations 26
See footnote 5 above.
participating in several projects must have 27
See Annex 3.
sufficient capacity to implement all these projects. 28
Time spent on such field work or other research
Information on financial capacity checks is activities may count as time spent in the EU or the
provided in the ERC Rules for Submission. Please Associated Countries for the purpose of the
see also important information on possible Principal Investigator’s time commitments.
exclusion and registration of economic operators in 29
Consortium agreements are not required for ERC
the Commission's Early Detection and Exclusion multi-beneficiary grants.
27 | P a g eRestrictions on submission of − A Principal Investigator may submit
proposals proposals to different ERC frontier
research grant calls published
Thousands of high quality proposals are under the same Work Programme,
received each year and only outstanding but only the first eligible proposal
proposals are likely to be funded. In order will be evaluated.
to maintain the quality and integrity of
ERC’s evaluation process the Scientific Further restrictions for submission under
Council decided to introduce restrictions the ERC Work Programme 2021 are set
on applications from 2009. These out in the table below. The Scientific
restrictions were extended from 2015. Council may decide in the light of
experience that different or comparable
The following restrictions apply: restrictions will apply in subsequent
years.
− A researcher may participate as
Principal Investigator 30 in only one The restrictions related to the outcome of
ERC frontier research project at the evaluation in previous calls are
any one time 31; designed to allow unsuccessful Principal
Investigators the time necessary to
− A researcher participating as develop a stronger proposal.
Principal Investigator in an ERC
frontier research project may not The year of an ERC call for proposals refers
submit a proposal for another ERC to the Work Programme under which the
frontier research grant, unless the call was published and can be established
existing project ends32 no more by its call identifier. A 2020 ERC call for
than two years after the call proposals is therefore one that was
deadline; published under the Work Programme
2020 and will have 2020 in the call
− A Principal Investigator who is a identifier (for example ERC-2020-StG).
serving Panel Member for a 2021
ERC call or who served as a Panel Inadmissible, ineligible or withdrawn
Member for a 2019 ERC call may proposals do not count against any of the
not apply to a 2021 ERC call for the restrictions in the table below.
same type of grant 33;
30
Including all Principal Investigators supported 32
According to the duration of the project fixed in
under the Synergy Grant. the previous frontier research grant agreement.
31
A new frontier research project can only start 33
The members of the ERC panels alternate to
after the duration of the project fixed in a previous allow panel members to apply to the ERC calls in
frontier research ERC grant agreement has ended. alternate years.
28 | P a g eCall to which the Principal Investigator applied 2021 ERC calls to which a
under previous ERC Work Programmes and proposal Principal Investigator is not
evaluation outcome eligible
2019 and 2020
Starting, Consolidator, Rejected on the grounds of a Starting, Consolidator and
Advanced Grant or Synergy breach of research integrity Advanced Grant
Grant
2019 Starting, Consolidator Starting, Consolidator and
C at Step 1
or Advanced Grant Advanced Grant
A, or B at Step 2 No restriction
2020 Starting, Consolidator
or Advanced Grant Starting, Consolidator and
B, or C at Step 1
Advanced Grant
A, or B at Step 3 No restriction
2020 Synergy Grant B at Step 1 or Step 2 No restriction
C at Step 1 Advanced Grant
29 | P a g eProposal submission and description
Proposal Submission Extended Synopsis: 5 pages
Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grant Curriculum Vitae: 2 pages
proposals are submitted by the Principal
Track Record: 2 pages
Investigator who has scientific
responsibility for the project, on behalf of Scientific Proposal: 14 pages
the host institution.
Resources and Time Commitment:
2 pages
Proposal submission is made Host Institution Binding Statement
electronically. Early registration of Support
and submission is strongly
Ethics Review Table
recommended and should be
done as early as possible in PhD record and supporting
advance of the call deadline.
documentation for eligibility
checking (for Starting and
For each call, Information for Applicants34 Consolidator Grants only).
is published on the ERC website and EU Only the material that is presented within
Funding & Tenders Portal, which describes these limits will be evaluated (peer
in detail how the electronic forms should reviewers will only be asked to read, and
be completed. will be under no obligation to read
beyond, the material presented within the
page limits).
Proposal description
A complete proposal consists of the
following elements35, with the following
page limits 36.
34
As well as other relevant documents, including 36
Incomplete proposals may be declared
the ERC rules for submission and evaluation. inadmissible, see “Admissibility and eligibility
35
Proposals shall not include a plan for the criteria”. References and the funding ID section are
dissemination and exploitation of the results in the not counted towards these page limits.
sense of Article 35(6) of the Horizon Europe
regulation.
30 | P a g eThe host institution must confirm record as well as a succinct "funding ID"
its association with and its support which must specify any current research
to the project and the Principal grants and their subject, and any on-going
Investigator. As part of the application for work related to the
application, the institution must proposal. Any research career gaps and/or
provide a binding statement that unconventional paths should be clearly
the conditions of independence are explained so that they can be fairly
already fulfilled or will be provided
assessed by the evaluation panels.
to the Principal Investigator if the
application is successful, according Track Record: Each of the Principal
to the template provided in the Investigator must provide a list of
Information for Applicants. achievements reflecting their track record.
Proposals that do not include this
The type of achievements expected for
institutional statement may be
Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grant
declared inadmissible.
applicant Principal Investigators are set
out in the relevant profiles above.
Scientific Proposal: Description of the
Extended Synopsis: This should be a scientific and technical aspects of the
concise presentation of the full scientific project, demonstrating the ground-
proposal, with particular attention to the breaking nature of the research, its
ground-breaking nature of the research potential impact and research
project and the feasibility of the outlined methodology.
scientific approach. At step 1 the full
Resources and Time Commitment: The
scientific proposal is not assessed so all
proposal should also clearly specify the
essential information must be covered in
percentage of the applicant's working time
the synopsis. The applicant will choose a
that will be spent in the EU or an
primary evaluation panel and may also
Associated Country and the percentage of
indicate a secondary evaluation panel. The
the applicant’s working time that will be
applicant should indicate when he or she
devoted to the project, as well as a full
believes that the proposal is of a cross-
estimation of the real project cost,
panel or cross-domain nature.
including a breakdown of personnel costs,
Curriculum Vitae: The CV should include whenever possible by team members
the standard academic and research category.
31 | P a g eEvaluation procedure and criteria
Evaluation procedure 37 agreement of both Panel Chairs
concerned.
A single submission of the full proposal
The panel to which a proposal is allocated
will be followed by a two-step evaluation.
may request additional reviews by
The evaluation will be conducted by
appropriate members of other panel(s) or
means of a structure of high level peer
additional remote evaluators.
review panels as listed in Annex 1. The
panels may be assisted by independent
The ERC strongly encourages multi and
external experts working remotely. interdisciplinary research proposals.
Proposals of this type are evaluated by
The applicant Principal Investigator can
ERC's regular panels with the appropriate
request during the electronic proposal
external expertise.
submission that up to three specific
persons should not act as an evaluator in
Principal Investigators whose proposals
the evaluation of their proposal 38.
are retained for step 2 of the evaluation
At step 1, the extended synopsis and the will be invited for an interview to present
Principal Investigator's track record and their proposal to the evaluation panel
CV will be assessed (and not the full meeting.
scientific proposal). Proposals will be
retained for step 2 based on the outcome
Evaluation criteria
of the evaluation at step 1 and a For all ERC frontier research grants,
budgetary cut-off level of up to three scientific excellence is the sole criterion
times the panel's indicative budget. of evaluation. It will be applied in
At step 2 the complete version of the conjunction to the evaluation of both: the
retained proposals will be assessed ground-breaking nature, ambition and
(including the full scientific proposal). feasibility of the research project; and the
intellectual capacity, creativity and
The allocation of the proposals to the commitment of the Principal Investigator.
various panels will be based on the
expressed preference of the applicant During the evaluation, the phase of the
Principal Investigator (see “Proposal Principal Investigator's transition to
description” above). Proposals may be independence, possible breaks in the
allocated to a different panel with the research career of the applicant and/or
37
Procedural aspects that are not specified in this 38
The persons identified may be excluded from the
work programme are established in the ERC rules evaluation of the proposal concerned, as long as it
for submission. remains possible to have the proposal evaluated.
32 | P a g eunconventional research career paths therefore unlikely to be recommended for
should be taken into account. funding by the ERC's panels.
In general, projects wholly or largely Plagiarism detection software may be
consisting in the collation and compilation used to analyse proposals submitted to
of existing material in new databases, the ERC.
editions or collections are unlikely to
The detailed evaluation elements applying
constitute ground-breaking or "frontier"
to the excellence of the research project
research in themselves, however useful and the Principal Investigator are set out
such resources might be to subsequent below.
original research. Such projects are
1. Research Project
Ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility
Starting, Consolidator and Advanced
Ground-breaking nature and potential impact of the research project
To what extent does the proposed research address important challenges?
To what extent are the objectives ambitious and beyond the state of the art (e.g. novel
concepts and approaches or development between or across disciplines)?
To what extent is the proposed research high risk-high gain (i.e. if successful the payoffs will
be very significant, but there is a high risk that the research project does not entirely fulfil its
aims)?
Scientific Approach
To what extent is the outlined scientific approach feasible bearing in mind the extent that the
proposed research is high risk/high gain (based on the Extended Synopsis)?
To what extent are the proposed research methodology and working arrangements
appropriate to achieve the goals of the project (based on the full Scientific Proposal)?
To what extent does the proposal involve the development of novel methodology (based on
the full Scientific Proposal)?
To what extent are the proposed timescales, resources and PI commitment adequate and
properly justified (based on the full Scientific Proposal)?
33 | P a g e2. Principal Investigator
Intellectual capacity and creativity
Starting and Consolidator
To what extent has the PI demonstrated the ability to conduct ground-breaking research?
To what extent does the PI provide evidence of creative independent thinking?
To what extent does the PI have the required scientific expertise and capacity to successfully
execute the project?
Intellectual capacity and creativity
Advanced
To what extent has the PI demonstrated the ability to conduct ground-breaking research?
To what extent does the PI has/have the required scientific expertise and capacity to
successfully execute the project?
To what extent has the PI demonstrated sound leadership in the training and advancement
of young scientists?
34 | P a g eEvaluation outcome A. fully meets the ERC's excellence
criterion and is recommended for
At each evaluation step, each proposal will funding if sufficient funds are
be evaluated and marked for each of the available;
two main elements of the proposal: the
ground-breaking nature, ambition and B. meets some but not all elements of
feasibility of the research project; and the the ERC's excellence criterion and
intellectual capacity, creativity and will not be funded.
commitment of the Principal Investigator.
Once the evaluation of their proposal has
At the end of each evaluation step, the been completed, applicants to all schemes
proposals will be ranked by the panels on will receive an evaluation report which will
the basis of the panels' overall include the final panel score and ranking
appreciation of their strengths and range, the panel comment and the
weaknesses taking into account the marks assessment of individual criteria by each
they have received. external expert. .
At the end of step 1 of the evaluation the Projects recommended for funding will be
proposal will receive one of the following funded by the ERC if sufficient funds are
scores: available. Proposals will be funded in
priority order based on their rank.
A. is of sufficient quality to pass to
step 2 of the evaluation; Applicants may also be subject to
restrictions on submitting proposals to
B. is of high quality but not sufficient future ERC calls based on the outcome of
to pass to step 2 of the evaluation; the evaluation. Applicants will need to
check the restrictions in place for each
C. is not of sufficient quality to pass
to step 2 of the evaluation. call (for 2021 calls see restrictions on
submission of proposals under
At the end of step 2 of the evaluation the “Admissibility and eligibility criteria”).
proposal will receive one of the following
scores:
35 | P a g eOther Actions
36 | P a g eThe different actions described in this in order to detect the footprint of
chapter aim to allow the Scientific Council ERC-funded activities on scientific
of the ERC to carry out its duties and progress;
mandate, including its obligations to • Case studies on how ERC-funded
establish the ERC's overall strategy and to research has influenced and
monitor and quality control the contributed to the development of
programme’s implementation from the a selection of major innovations;
scientific perspective. • Small-scale exploratory studies to
test novel methodologies for
Support to call and programme portfolio analysis (in relation to
monitoring, and evaluation quality, interdisciplinarity, novelty,
risk profiles) or for the analyses of
1. Evaluation of proposals and
the indirect impacts of ERC funding
project monitoring
(such as on national research
The ERC uses appointed independent systems or on policy-making).
experts during the evaluation of proposals
Type of action: Expert contract action.
and the preparation of the ERC calls, for
ethics review and for the monitoring of Indicative budget: EUR 300 000 from the
ongoing projects. The ERC also reimburses 2021 budget.
the costs of Principal Investigators invited
to attend interviews during the evaluation Support to open science
of their proposals.
3. Support to the implementation of
Type of action: Expert contract action. Open Science by the ERC
Indicative budget: EUR 16 028 368 from To follow up on the conclusions of the
the 2021 budget. “Study on open access to publications and
research data management and sharing
2. Support to programme monitoring within ERC projects” that was funded
and evaluation under the ERC Work programme 2016 and
The ERC Scientific Council is tasked with finalised in 2019, experts in the areas
reviewing and assessing the ERC’s covered by that study will be contracted to
achievements and the quality and impact 1) perform the collection and in-depth
of the research funded by the ERC. For the analysis of factual information on
performance of this task the Scientific costs in the context of ERC projects,
Council has adopted a monitoring and both during and after the end of the
evaluation strategy. As part of this grant, related to
strategy, experts will be contracted to a) open access to publications
perform: (including long-text
publications and
• Thematic analyses and longitudinal
publications after the end of
studies on specific research areas
the grant) and
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