After I wrote this post earlier this year, today, I want to share with you all another interesting webinar.
I know a significant shift when I see one. The new ERC Plus grant is exactly that. I will call it ERC+ below. This isn’t just another funding line; it’s the ERC’s answer to a question from visionary scientists: „What about the ideas that are too big?“
For the visionaries whose ambitions can’t be contained, the ERC+ offers up to €7 million for up to 7 years.
Who is it for? Researchers at any career stage, from a brilliant postdoc to an established professor, who do not currently hold an ERC grant (exceptions are made if current grant ends in a month, etc. – check the video for more details). The key is that your project must be fundamentally impossible to execute with a standard Starting, Consolidator, or Advanced Grant.
A crucial warning from the inside: this is fiercely competitive. Only 30 grants will be awarded per year. If your idea can be achieved with a standard ERC grant’s budget and duration, apply there. Your chances are much higher. The application needs a secret weapon: a powerful „Vision Statement.“ In a page or less, you must compellingly argue why your science demands this unique scale and trust. This is what will trigger the „oh wow“ reaction from evaluators.
As a former Scientific Officer at ERCEA, I see this as the ERC doubling down on its core mission. It’s a bold bet on the most ambitious science. If you have that once-in-a-career idea, the ERC+ is your call. The deadline is September 2026. Start thinking big now, and don’t forget to have fun!
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