ERC Consolidator Grant

The ERC Consolidator Grant is part of the European Research Council (ERC). Aimed at excellent mid-career researchers ready to strengthen their independence, it is highly competitive and places scientific excellence at its core. Beyond recognising outstanding track records, the scheme backs bold, frontier-research ideas and the talent to realise them, offering flexible, long-term funding to build or consolidate an independent team and deliver clear, ambitious research contributions.

What is the ERC Consolidator Grant?

The ERC Consolidator Grant supports excellent mid-career researchers who are ready to strengthen their independence and consolidate their own independent research team around a clear, ambitious idea of ground-breaking nature. Like all ERC funding schemes, it follows a bottom-up approach without predefined topics, and proposals are selected solely on scientific excellence. Funding is long term and flexible, enabling you to plan the work that best serves your objectives, and it is portable so the project can move with you to another eligible host in an EU Member State or an associated country if needed. The programme welcomes high-risk, high-reward research at the frontiers of knowledge and is designed to provide the stability required to lead and deliver a transformative project.

Who can apply?

Researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience after a successful PhD defence, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal can apply. The research must be carried out at a Host Institution (public or private research organisation) based in an EU Member State or in an Associated Country. You do not need to be employed by the Host Institution at the time of submission, but there must be a clear commitment from the Host Institution if the project is funded. Your research team can include members of any nationality, and there may be some team members located outside Europe if this is well justified.

How does the application process work?

Once the call is open

Applications for an ERC grant require a single Principal Investigator (PI) to submit the application on behalf of their host institution. There is one call each year. Read the call documents carefully, contact your Host Institution early and gather the details you need, then start writing your proposal and leave time for reviews by peers and other scientists. Submit your proposal through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. You can resubmit updated versions any time before the deadline. A complete application includes the administrative forms, the research proposal and any required supporting documents such as ethics materials.

Evaluation process after the deadline

The ERC first checks eligibility. All eligible proposals are then evaluated by external experts, with assessment based only on scientific excellence. If your proposal is selected for funding, it will undergo an ethics review.

Overview: ERC Consolidator Grant

Funding

• Up to €2 million for projects of up to five years
• Additional funding up to €1 million for major equipment, access to large facilities, substantial fieldwork, or start-up costs
• If relocating from a non-associated third country, the additional amount can be up to €2 million
• Funding covers 100% of eligible direct costs, plus a 25% contribution to indirect costs
• Implemented as a lump-sum grant model
• The total available budget is €673 million in 2026.

Deadline 2026

The 2026 call opens on 25 September 2025, with a deadline on 13 January 2026.

More information on the ERC Consolidator Grant.

About the European Research Council (ERC) grants

The European Research Council (ERC) funds frontier research through highly competitive ERC grants. ERC funded research has the boldest ideas and top talent across career stages: ERC Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants; an ERC Proof of Concept grant to build on an ongoing ERC project; and ERC Synergy Grants for small, high-impact consortia.

More ERC grants or visit the ERC website

About Catalyze

At Catalyze we commit ourselves to accelerate innovations that have a positive impact on the world. We are the driving force for innovations across the fields of Life Sciences and Sustainability. Our offering of strategic consulting services, funding consulting, project management and more, deliver impactful expertise for all development stages. With a proven track record and the highest quality and success rate in the industry, we aim to be the consulting partner of choice to drive the success of meaningful innovation projects.