Horizon Europe 2021-2027 is entering its final phase, with just over 1.5 years of secured EU funding left for CH-based researchers. With new ERC restrictions foreseen for 2027, now is the time to plan your application strategically and make the most of this opportunity.

ERC Advanced Grants fund established top researchers (10-year track record) and support frontier research in any field. They encourage bold, innovative ideas, exploring new or emerging areas through unconventional approaches.
Success rate: ~11% (call 2024).

A groundbreaking idea:
• Reinterprets existing observation
• Challenges dominant models
• Connect previous separate domain
• Challenges a core assumption
• Changes the field (if correct)
• Carries significant risk
• Proposes a fundamental question (not just a project)

• Work on a research topic of your choice
• Gain financial autonomy for 5 years
• Attract top team members and collaborators from anywhere in the world
• Move with your grant to any place in Europe, if desired (‘portability of grants’)
• Apply for additional funding

• Applicants of any nationality
• Researchers with a track record of significant research achievements
• Host Institutions in EU or Associated Country (AC), CH included
• Min. 30% working time dedicated to the ERC
• Min. 50% working in EU/AC

• ERC grantees with projects ending after 2028
• Applicants who already applied to another ERC call under the 2026 Work Programme (WP)
• Applicants who received a B or C score in the previous ERC Advanced Grant call
• Panel members for an ERC call under the 2026 or 2024 (WP)

Internal candidates w a professorial position are invited to send an expression of interest to servizio.ricerca@usi.ch by 30 June, including provisional abstract and title of the proposal.

• Up to € 2,5M + additional funding up to € 1M (€ 2M for extra-EU based)
• Budget covers 100% of the project costs, incl. 25% OHs
• Co-funding is not required
• Funding is awarded as a lump sum contribution
• Duration: up to 5 yrs, pro rata for shorter duration

Proposals are evaluated by intl. peer reviewers:
• Step1: Part I + CV & Track Record (vision, ambition & potential impact of the project)
• Step2: Full proposal + online interview (emphasis o methodology, feasibility & resources)
Panel members cannot be contacted, but you can check out who they are.

Proposals are evaluated solely on the basis of excellence, considering both:
• The project (groundbreaking nature, potential impact, scientific approach)
• The PI (intellectual capacity, creativity, commitment, personal path, including breaks or non-linear trajectories)

Have a look at successful ERC projects!

The ERC Dashboard gives you access to abstracts and lets you filter by discipline. Use it also to identify the most suitable disciplinary panel for your proposal.