The European Research Council (ERC) has earmarked €1.86bn for its next Work Programme scheme – a competition intended to give European researchers support to “deliver ground-breaking scientific results”.
There are a total of five grants up for grabs outlined in the programme, with most of the fund reserved for early- to mid- career researchers.
Carlo Moedas, commissioner for research, science and innovation, said: “This is the starting whistle for the next round of this champions’ league of European research within the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
“I hope this new series of competitions for excellence in science will identify and reward potential breakthroughs, and will be an investment for the future of Europe.”
In addition, the council is also re-introducing the ‘much anticipated’ synergy grants, a funding scheme for groups of two to four scientists who jointly address ‘ambitious’ research problems.
Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, ERC president, said: “These grants can trigger unconventional collaborations, allow for the emergence of new fields of study and help put scientists working in Europe at the global forefront.
“By providing €250m of funding for the Synergy Grant call, the ERC Scientific Council intends to make possible substantial advances at the frontiers of knowledge which would be impossible for researchers working alone.”
The programme includes all of the established ERC funding schemes, including starting, consolidator and advanced grants as well as proof of concept grants for ERC grantees who intend to explore the innovation potential of their research results.
Applications for the starting and synergy competition grants closes on 17 October 2017 and 14 November 2017, respectively.