The newly approved 2026 Work Programme already includes the changes announced a couple of weeks ago on the ERC website regarding the 2026 calls.

Yesterday, the official adoption of the European Research Council’s 2026 Work Programme was announced.

This document outlines the various funding opportunities, the allocated budgets for each type of grant, the publication, deadline and evaluation timelines, as well as the eligibility rules for the upcoming year. It was drafted, proposed, and approved by the ERC Scientific Council and subsequently adopted by the European Commission. As previously communicated, several updates will be implemented in ERC grant applications from the 2026 Work Programme onwards, with further adjustments anticipated for 2027.

Changes in 2025: new ceiling for additional budget in Advanced Grants

Following the addendum to the 2025 Work Programme (WP), the ERC decided to increase the potential additional funding allocation.

This means the provision of up to €1 million in additional funding remains available in proposals for major equipment purchases, access to large facilities, or other experimental and fieldwork costs.

The key update is the possibility to request up to €2 million in additional funding for “start-up” costs, large equipment, facilities, or fieldwork in the case of Principal Investigators who, at the time of application, are based in non-associated third countries and decide to move to an EU Member State or a country associated to Horizon Europe to carry out the grant. In addition, the usual exclusion of personnel costs will not apply to Principal Investigators applying to the 2025 ERC Advanced Grant call.

2026 Calls: timeline and new application structure

For 2026, the updated opening and closing dates for the different calls are as follows:

– Proposal Structure:

The scientific proposals will continue to consist of two parts:
• Part I (maximum 5 pages) should provide an overview of the project, including the state of the art, research questions, objectives, and overall research strategy.
• Part II details the project implementation (methodology, work plan, risk management, budget, etc.). The new development is that its length will be halved compared to previous years: up to 7 pages instead of 14 for the Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants; up to 10 pages for Synergy Grants.

– Evaluation:

Scientific feasibility will no longer be assessed in Stage 1, and should therefore only be included in Part II. Part I will be used to present a compelling overall research strategy.

-Additional Funding:

• Researchers currently based outside Europe may apply for up to €2 million in additional funding to relocate to the EU or an associated country under the Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants.
• Applicants already based within the EU may request up to €1 million in additional funding.
• For Synergy Grants, the ceiling of €4 million in additional funding remains unchanged.
From 2026 onwards, these funds may also be used to cover personnel costs, where properly justified.

-Extension of Eligibility:

The eligibility window following the award of the PhD for Starting and Consolidator Grants may be extended in cases of gender-based or other forms of violence. Parental leave will also continue to be accepted as grounds for extending this period.

-Restrictions on Resubmission:

• Applicants receiving a “B” score at Stage 1 of the 2025 Synergy Grant call will not be eligible to apply in 2026.
• Beneficiaries of an ongoing ERC grant may only submit a new application in 2026 if their current project ends at least two years before the 2026 call deadline.

Outlook for 2027: more flexible eligibility for Starting and Consolidator Grants

As part of the upcoming 2027 Work Programme, the ERC plans to expand the eligibility windows for Starting and Consolidator Grants to better reflect the diversity of academic careers. The ERC Scientific Council is also currently developing a new funding instrument under the “Choose Europe for Science” initiative, with further details to be announced in due course.

Proposed new eligibility periods:
• Starting Grants: from 0 to 10 years after PhD defence
• Consolidator Grants: from 5 to 15 years after PhD defence

The ERC Scientific Council is currently designing this new funding instrument, and further information will be provided in due time.

ERC Webinar – 10 July

Tomorrow, 10 July, the ERC Executive Agency (ERCEA) will host an online seminar where Angela Liberatore and Alban Kellerbauer from ERCEA will present the latest developments, including funding opportunities, budget allocations, the application schedule, and eligibility criteria. The session will be moderated by Martin Penny, Head of Communications at ERCEA, who will also lead a live Q&A session.

Webinar link: Webinar on ERC Work Programme 2026 | ERC

Our International Projects Unit remains available to assist with any questions or clarifications regarding this Work Programme and to provide support to all interested researchers.