The European Research Council (ERC) has launched the first call for applications for the new ERC Plus grants. The program aims to help Europe retain and attract top scientific talent from around the world. A total of 210 million euros has been allocated for the pilot call, and approximately 30 grants are expected to be awarded under the first call. The deadline for submitting applications is September 2, 2026.
ERC Plus grants are part of a broader package of measures under the “Choose Europe” initiative.The program will provide up to €7 million per project for a maximum of seven years. The program aims to support outstanding researchers from around the world and enable them to carry out transformative research that, in its scope and ambition, significantly exceeds the framework of existing ERC programs.
Call details:
- The call is open to researchers of any age or nationality who, at the time of application, may be based anywhere in the world.
- Researchers at all career stages are eligible to apply for a grant.
- Projects may be submitted in any scientific field.
- The proposal is submitted by a single Principal Investigator on behalf of their host institution (a public or private research organization).
- A researcher may receive only one ERC Plus grant in their lifetime.
Due to the high number of applications and to maintain the quality of the evaluation, specific restrictions on resubmitting projects also apply to this call, in accordance with the ERC Work Program for 2026. (see article)
Useful documents
A new type of ERC grant ERC Plus Grant, introduced as part of the Choose Europe for Science, is intended for outstanding researchers from Europe and around the world with bold ideas and a vision for transformative research that goes beyond the scope of existing ERC grant schemes. Grants are intended for principal investigators at any stage of their career. Projects can last up to 7 years, and the maximum funding amount is 7 million euros. Each year, only approximately 30 projects across all fields are expected to be funded.
Those interested in assistance with submitting a grant application may also contact the staff of the Project Service at Palacký University in Olomouc. We look forward to working with you! The ERC agenda falls under the responsibility of:
Mgr. Ondřej Němčák
ondrej.nemcak@upol.cz
58 563 1441 | 736 501 763
Source: ERC