The ERC Plus Grant, introduced in the 2026 Work Programme, represents a new level of ambition in frontier research funding. Designed to support projects that go beyond the scope of traditional ERC grants, it targets ideas that aim to reshape entire research fields.
In this article, we break down what the ERC Plus Grant is, who it is for, and how it works in practice.
What is the ERC Plus Grant?
The ERC Plus Grant is designed to support exceptional researchers with bold, visionary ideas that go beyond the scope of traditional ERC funding schemes.
What do traditional ERC funding schemes mean?
“Traditional ERC funding schemes” refers to the core grants offered by the European Research Council, namely:
- Starting Grants (StG) – for early-career researchers (2–7 years after PhD)
- Consolidator Grants (CoG) – for researchers building independence (7–12 years after PhD)
- Advanced Grants (AdG) – for established research leaders with a strong track record
- Synergy Grants (SyG) – for small groups of Principal Investigators tackling complex research problems
While existing ERC grants already fund frontier research, the Plus Grant targets projects that:
- Transform entire fields
- Open completely new research directions
- Address major scientific challenges at an unprecedented scale
For example, while a traditional ERC grant might support a breakthrough in quantum computing components, an ERC Plus project could aim to build a radically new computing architecture that reshapes the entire field. These are not just excellent projects; they are field-defining ambitions that cannot be realised under standard ERC funding.
The ERC Plus Grant is highly selective, with only around 30 grants awarded per year, compared to around 1,000 across other ERC schemes.
Who Can Apply for the ERC Plus Grant?
Researchers of any nationality, based anywhere in the world, and at any career stage are eligible to apply, provided that their research is carried out at a host institution located in an EU Member State or an associated country.
Even for early-stage candidates, it is essential to demonstrate an outstanding track record and clear intellectual leadership. This will be evaluated in line with the career stage.
The ERC Plus Grant is not only about having a strong idea; it is about demonstrating that you are uniquely positioned to deliver it.
In practice, this could include a wide range of profiles, such as:
- An early-career scientist with breakthrough contributions
- A mid-career researcher building an international reputation
- An established research leader with major discoveries
- A researcher from industry applying as an individual PI
To better understand the level of ambition expected, consider the earlier example of a project aiming to develop a radically new computing architecture that could reshape the field of quantum computing. A vision of this scale would typically require a Principal Investigator with not only deep expertise, but also the ability to operate across disciplines. This could be, for example:
- quantum physicist pushing the boundaries of how quantum systems are fundamentally designed
- computer scientist or AI expert exploring new computational paradigms
- interdisciplinary research leader capable of bridging physics, engineering, and advanced computing.
Researchers can receive only one ERC Plus Grant in their lifetime, making the timing of the application particularly important.
How to assess if your project fits the ERC Plus Grant?
Before preparing a proposal, it is important to assess whether your idea matches the level of ambition expected.
Ask yourself:
- Does the project go beyond advancing the current state of the art?
- Does it aim to redefine a field or create a new research direction?
- Does it require a scale not achievable under standard ERC grants?
In practice, this is often one of the most challenging steps, as strong ideas do not always align with the expectations of this scheme.
Eligibility and Key Requirements
Quick facts at a glance:
- No predefined topics or priorities
- Applications welcome from any field
- Projects must clearly go beyond the standard ERC scope
- Hosted in an EU Member State or Associated Country
- PI must dedicate at least 30% of their time and spend 50% in Europe
The ERC Plus Grant remains fully bottom-up, with no thematic restrictions.
Funding and Duration
The ERC Plus Grant offers:
- Up to €7 million per project
- Duration of 4 to 7 years
This reflects the scale and long-term vision required for these projects.
Evaluation Process
The ERC Plus Grant is evaluated based on a single criterion: excellence. This applies both to the research idea and to the Principal Investigator.
In practice, evaluators are looking at two things:
- how ambitious and ground-breaking the project is
- whether the Principal Investigator has the expertise and leadership to deliver it
Compared to standard ERC grants, more weight is placed on the applicant’s past achievements. This means that a strong track record and clear scientific leadership are essential, regardless of career stage.
The evaluation takes place in two steps.
Step 1: Short proposal evaluation
At this stage, evaluators assess:
- the short scientific proposal
- the Principal Investigator’s CV and track record
- the Statement of Vision
Only proposals of the highest quality move forward to Step 2.
Step 2: Full proposal evaluation and interview
Proposals that pass Step 1 are evaluated in full. The Principal Investigator presents their proposal during an interview with the evaluation panel.
At the end of this stage, proposals are scored:
- Score A: fully meets the excellence criterion and is recommended for funding
- Score B: meets some elements of the excellence criterion and is not funded
Funding is then allocated based on ranking, and only the highest-ranked proposals receive support. Finally, successful proposals undergo an ethics review and, where relevant, a security appraisal.
Need support with your ERC grant application?
Given the level of ambition and selectivity, preparing a competitive ERC Plus proposal requires more than a strong idea. It requires clear positioning, alignment with evaluation expectations, and a well-structured narrative.
With years of experience in proposal writing, including ERC Grants, Future Needs supports researchers by providing an external perspective, helping assess the potential of their idea, and ensuring alignment with the scheme’s requirements.
For more information, contact our Head of Proposal Writing at chariton@futureneeds.eu
