The European Research Council has adopted its 2026 Work Programme, bringing meaningful changes to how proposals are structured and evaluated – with further reforms already confirmed for 2027. Whether you are preparing your first ERC application or planning a resubmission, understanding what has changed is essential for competing effectively.
What Does the ERC Fund?
The ERC is part of Horizon Europe Pillar I: Excellent Science. It supports investigator-driven frontier research across all scientific disciplines, with scientific excellence as its sole evaluation criterion. ERC funding is designed to back ambitious ideas, strengthen Europe’s research base, and attract outstanding global talent.
The main ERC grant schemes are:
• Starting Grants – for researchers launching independent careers
• Consolidator Grants – for researchers consolidating their independence
• Advanced Grants – for established leading researchers
• Synergy Grants – for small groups tackling major scientific challenges together
• Proof of Concept Grants – for current or former ERC grantees exploring innovation or societal impact
A significant new addition is the ERC Plus Grant, introduced under the Choose Europe for Science initiative announced by Commission President von der Leyen. This scheme is designed to support outstanding researchers with bold, transformative ideas that go beyond the scope of standard ERC grants. Up to €7 million is available for up to seven years – though applicants should be aware that only around 30 ERC Plus Grants are expected to be awarded per year across all fields and career stages, making it exceptionally competitive.
Key Changes in the ERC 2026 Work Programme
Several important changes apply from the 2026 Work Programme onwards.
New Proposal Structure
The scientific proposal is now clearly divided into two distinct parts.
Part I (maximum five pages) should focus on:
- the overall research idea
- current state of knowledge
- scientific questions to be addressed
- project objectives
- overall research strategy
Part II focuses on implementation and delivery, covering:
- detailed methodology
- work plan
- risk assessment and mitigation
- justification of requested resources
- additional background information
Page limits for Part II are seven pages for Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants, and ten pages for Synergy Grants. The budget justification sits outside these limits.
Feasibility Assessed Only at Step 2
One of the most significant practical changes is that feasibility is no longer assessed at Step 1. Part I – along with the applicant’s CV and track record – is evaluated at Step 1, while the full proposal, including feasibility, resources and methodology, is reviewed at Step 2.
This means applicants must use Part I to build a compelling case for the importance, originality and ambition of the idea, leaving detailed implementation planning for Part II.
Practical takeaway: ERC applicants need to be sharper than ever in presenting a high-level scientific vision early in the process. A persuasive Part I is now the primary gateway to Step 2.
Expanded Relocation Funding
From the ERC 2026 calls, researchers based outside the EU or Horizon Europe associated countries who apply for a Starting, Consolidator or Advanced Grant may request up to €2 million in additional funding to relocate their laboratory or team to Europe. This extra funding can now also cover personnel costs. Applicants already based in an EU Member State or associated country remain eligible for up to €1 million in additional funding, subject to justification and panel approval.
ERC Changes Coming in 2027
The ERC has confirmed a further set of reforms planned under the 2027 Work Programme, which will introduce its most significant eligibility changes in years.
Wider Eligibility Windows
To better reflect the diversity of academic career paths across disciplines and countries:
• Starting Grant: from PhD award, up to 10 years afterwards (previously 2 – 7 years)
• Consolidator Grant: between 5 and 15 years after PhD defence (previously 7 – 12 years)
These changes create a five-year overlap between the two schemes, giving researchers more flexibility to choose the grant most appropriate to their career stage. All existing extension policies – for parental leave, long-term illness, gender-based violence and similar circumstances – remain in place.
Tighter Application Restrictions
In response to a rapidly increasing volume of applications placing pressure on the peer review system, the ERC is significantly tightening participation rules from 2027:
- Only one ERC proposal may be under evaluation at any one time
- Only one proposal submission is permitted under the 2027 Work Programme
- Researchers may receive only one Starting Grant and one Consolidator Grant during their career
- Additional cross-scheme restrictions apply – for example, applicants who submitted eligible proposals for the Advanced Grant or ERC Plus in 2026 may not apply to the Synergy Grant in 2027
Strengthened Resubmission Restrictions
The ERC is substantially extending resubmission blocking periods based on previous evaluation outcomes. Under the 2027 Work Programme, applicants who received a C score at Step 1 in the main grant calls of 2024, 2025 or 2026 – or a B score at Step 1 in 2025 or 2026 – cannot apply to any 2027 ERC main grant call, including Synergy and ERC Plus. The ERC has signalled that similar restrictions may follow in 2028 and 2029.
Practical takeaway: The ERC has been explicit: applicants should consider very carefully whether now is the optimal time to submit. Premature applications carry a higher strategic risk than ever before.
What These ERC Rule Changes Mean for Applicants
Taken together, these changes reflect the ERC’s determination to preserve evaluation quality as applications continue to rise sharply. The direction of travel is clear: the ERC is rewarding well-timed, mature, highly competitive submissions and reducing incentives for speculative or early applications.
For researchers, this means:
- Strategic timing of submissions matters more than before
- Proposal maturity should take priority over speed to submission
- Scientific ambition must be front-loaded and clearly communicated
- Resubmission planning requires greater care and longer-term thinking
Research institutions should also review their internal support processes for ERC candidates to ensure advice on timing and preparation reflects the new landscape.
How EU Project AB Can Support Your ERC Application
Since 2014, EU Project AB has helped researchers and institutions secure competitive EU research funding, including across Horizon Europe and earlier framework programmes.
If you are preparing an ERC proposal and want expert external support, EU Project AB can assist with:
- ERC application strategy and timing advice
- One-to-one applicant coaching and training sessions
- Proposal review and redrafting
- Interview preparation
- Institutional ERC readiness support
Our personalised consultancy helps researchers present ambitious ideas with the strongest possible competitive impact – at the right moment.
Request a consultation today to discuss your ERC plans