The European Research Council (ERC) has published new updates that will significantly affect how researchers apply for ERC grants. These changes will be implemented in two phases — starting with the 2026 Work Programme and continuing in the 2027 Work Programme, where eligibility of applicants for Starting and Consolidator Grants will be extended.

Changes in the 2026 Work Programme (StG, SyG with deadlines in 2025; CoG, AdG with deadlines in 2026)
The structure of ERC grant proposals will be updated. The application will still be submitted in two parts — Part A (administrative data) and Part B (scientific proposal) — but the scientific proposal will be reorganized to improve clarity and consistency.

New Structure of Part B:
- Part I (previously, the Extended Synopsis in Part B1)
- It must be maximum 5 pages.
- It should describe the project's central idea, the current state of knowledge, the key scientific questions, the project's main objectives and the overall research approach and methodology

- Part II focuses on the implementation of the project.
- It must include a detailed research methodology, a work plan (including timeline and tasks), risk assessment and mitigation strategies, justification for requested budget and resources

- Page limits for Part II are:
- 7 pages for Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants
- 10 pages for Synergy Grants
- The budget justification does not count toward these page limits

This new format is designed to help applicants focus on the most important aspects of their project, while making the evaluation process more efficient for reviewers.

Evaluation:
In the ERC evaluation process, Step 1 will assess Part I of the Scientific Proposal, along with the CV and Track Record. The focus at this stage is on the ambition and originality of the research idea. Only proposals that are convincing at this step will move to Step 2, where both Parts I and II, the CV and Track Record, and details on Resources and Time Commitment will be evaluated.
Importantly, feasibility will no longer be considered at Step 1. Instead, Part I should focus on the overall research vision, while all feasibility-related aspects must be included in Part II.

Additional funding:
Starting in 2026, ERC applicants based outside Europe can request up to €2 million in additional funding to support relocating their lab or team to the EU or an associated country.
From 2026, this extra funding can also cover personnel costs. Applicants must explain and justify the requested amount in their proposal, and the evaluation panel will decide whether to award it.

New funding instrument
The ERC Scientific Council is currently working on a new instrument to offer ambitious researchers substantial funding for up to seven years, as part of the Choose Europe for Science initiative. More details about the modalities will follow in due course.

Changes in the 2027 Work Programme (StG, SyG with deadlines in 2026; CoG, AdG with deadlines in 2027)

In the 2027 Work Programme, the ERC will revise the eligibility periods for the Starting and Consolidator Grants to better support researchers who have experienced career breaks.

New Eligibility Windows:
o Starting Grant (StG): New eligibility from 2027: 0–10 years after PhD
o Consolidator Grant (CoG): New eligibility from 2027: 5–15 years after PhD

However, researchers will be awarded no more than one Starting Grant and one Consolidator Grant during their career.


To read the full announcement, visit the ERC page:

https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/changes-2026-and-2027-work-programmes

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