ERC Proof of Concept Grants 2026

2 Call deadlines: DL1 - 17 March, 2026; DL2 - 17 September, 2026
Internal deadlines: 17 February, 2026 (DL1); 17 August, 2026 (DL2)

ERC PoC grants aim at maximizing the value of the excellent research generated within previous ERC projects, by funding further work (testing, experimenting, demonstrating, etc) to establish proof of concept of an idea and to progress on the path from ground-breaking research towards innovation. The PI must be able to demonstrate the relation between the idea to be taken to proof of concept and the ERC main frontier research project in question.

Eligibility

• All PIs of an ERC project (Starting, Consolidator, Advance or Synergy) are eligible for the ERC PoC if the ERC main grant is ongoing, or it has ended after 1 January 2025.
• Synergy Grant PIs are eligible to apply to the PoC call only with the written consent of all PIs in the same Synergy Grant project. PIs in the same Synergy Grant project can submit one PoC application each under this Work Programme.
• A PI whose ERC proposal was rejected on the grounds of a breach of research integrity in the calls for proposals under Work Programmes 2024 or 2025 may not submit a proposal to the ERC-2026-PoC call.

Funding and duration
€ 150.000 based on a lump sum scheme for maximum 18 months (typically 12 months) extensions of the duration may be granted only exceptionally.

Success rate

Proof of Concept Grants have a success rate of 31%.

More information
ERC Proof of Concept grants website

Contact
Sara Caspani