The European Research Council (ERC) has officially launched the first competition for its new ERC Plus Grants
ERC Plus Grants are a pilot funding programme designed to support some of the most ambitious and transformative research projects in Europe.
Announced on 2 June 2026, the ERC Plus Grants are a huge investment in Europe’s scientific future, with €210 million allocated under the European Union’s wider “Choose Europe” strategy.
The programme aims to strengthen Europe’s position as a global hub for cutting-edge research while attracting and retaining leading scientific talent from around the world.
The ERC Plus Grants will provide up to €7 million per project over a maximum of 7 years, offering researchers the resources needed to pursue bold, high-risk ideas that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs.
Supporting groundbreaking ideas
The ERC Plus Grants are specifically targeted at projects with the potential to open entirely new fields of investigation and deliver transformative advances across scientific disciplines.
The programme is open to outstanding researchers of any nationality, reinforcing Europe’s commitment to international scientific collaboration and excellence. Approximately 30 grants are expected to be awarded during this first competition.
The scheme forms part of a broader effort to ensure Europe remains competitive in an increasingly global race for scientific talent and innovation. By providing long-term funding and substantial financial support, policymakers hope to create an environment where researchers can tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges without being constrained by short-term funding cycles.
Part of the “Choose Europe” initiative
The ERC Plus Grants are a key component of the European Commission’s “Choose Europe” initiative, which was unveiled by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Paris in May 2025.
The wider programme covers the period from 2025 to 2027 and includes a range of measures to make Europe a more attractive destination for researchers.
Alongside ERC funding, national and regional governments across Europe are introducing fellowship schemes, visiting researcher programmes, and new recruitment opportunities ranging from tenure-track positions to professorships and junior group leader roles.
These efforts are intended to strengthen Europe’s research ecosystem and enhance its ability to compete with other leading scientific regions worldwide.
The launch of the ERC Plus Grants follows earlier measures introduced by the ERC to encourage researchers to relocate to Europe. In 2025, the organisation increased the level of support available to researchers moving from outside Europe.
Researchers applying for ERC Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants can now request up to €2 million in additional funding to help relocate their laboratories or research teams to an EU Member State or a country associated with the Horizon Europe programme.
These incentives are already showing results. While most ERC applicants continue to come from Europe, recent funding competitions have seen a significant increase in applications from researchers based in the United States. In some funding calls, the number of US-based applicants rose to four times the level seen in previous competitions.
The introduction of the ERC Plus Grants highlights Europe’s determination to remain at the forefront of global scientific research. By combining substantial financial investment with policies designed to attract international talent, European institutions are seeking to create the conditions for groundbreaking discoveries and long-term scientific leadership.
