Objectives and profile of the ERC Advanced Grant Principal Investigator

The objective of the Advanced Grant is to support excellent Principal Investigators that are established research leaders. An ERC Advanced Grant Principal Investigator is expected to be an active researcher with a track record of significant research achievements.

Size of ERC Advanced Grants

Advanced Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 2 500 000 for a period of 5 years. The maximum amount of the grants is reduced pro rata temporis for projects of a shorter duration.

Additional funding up to EUR 1 000 000 * can be requested to cover further eligible costs (e.g. start-up costs, major equipment, access to large facilities, major experimental and field work costs) when these are necessary to carry out the proposed work. The requests for additional funding must be duly justified in the proposal. Additional funding is not subject to pro rata temporis reduction for projects of shorter duration.

* Except for Principal Investigators in Starting, Consolidator, or Advanced Grant re-locating to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere to take up their ERC grant. In this case, the maximum additional funding shall be EUR 2 000 000.

The Advanced Grant is awarded as a single lump sum contribution for the entirety of the project (broken down by beneficiaries – where applicable) based on a realistic estimate of the actual cost of the project, and fully covering the work to be implemented in the proposed action.

For further information, please see the ERC Work Programme 2026.