2022 ERC Advanced Grants Open for Applications
The European Research Council (ERC) is the European Commission’s main channel for funding investigator-driven, frontier research. The ERC runs five main grant programmes to support projects and investigators at progressive stages of development: Starting Grants, Proof of Concept Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants, and Synergy Grants.
The 2022 round of the ERC Advanced Grants has now opened for applications. The awards will support active, well-established researchers of any nationality who wish to carry out their frontier research in any field or subject area in EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Applicant Principal Investigators (PIs) must demonstrate the ground breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their frontier research proposal. Proposals that cross disciplinary boundaries, pioneering ideas that address new and emerging fields and applications that introduce unconventional, innovative approaches are particularly encouraged.
Applicants are expected to be active researchers and to have a track record of significant research achievements in the last ten years. They are expected to have achieved one or more of the following benchmarks:
- Ten publications as main author in major international peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journals, and/or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals and peer-reviewed conferences proceedings of their respective field.
- Three major research monographs.
- Five granted patents.
- Ten invited presentations in well-established internationally organised conferences and advanced schools.
- Three research expeditions led by the applicant PI.
- Three well-established international conferences or congresses where the applicant was involved as a member of the steering and/or organising committee.
- International recognition through scientific or artistic prizes/awards or membership in well-regarded Academies or artefact with documented use.
- Major contributions to launching the careers of outstanding researchers.
- Recognised innovation leadership.
PIs must intend to spend at least 30% of their working time on the ERC project and at least 50% of their time in an EU Member State or Associated Country.
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 provided that an association agreement with the third country is signed at the time of signature of the grant agreement.
Individual grants provide up to a maximum of €2.5 million for a period of five years. Additionally, up to €1 million can be requested to cover: purchase of major equipment; access to large facilities and other major experimental and field work costs, excluding personnel costs; and eligible ‘start-up’ costs for PIs moving to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere.
The indicative fund value for 2022 is €555 million to fund an estimated 223 grants.
Applications should be made through the Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal by the 28 April 2022 deadline.