The first Horizon Europe grants will be launched today (25 February), with Starting Grants for researchers worth €619 million available
Horizon Europe is ready to carry the bloc from 2021 to 2027. The Commission explained two days in advance that the first grants under the science and innovation movement would be available on 25 February.
The Commission has launched the Work Programme 2021 for the European Research Council, which is the first under Horizon Europe.
The European Research Council will gain over €16 billion from Horizon Europe, which is a 22% increase from Horizon 2020.
Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President of the European Research Council, said: “The ERC Scientific Council is pleased that under Horizon Europe the European Research Council can continue to back Europe’s researchers and their most innovative ideas. We will be able to issue more grants than ever before.”
What are the Starting Grants?
These Starting Grants will be worth €619 million and have a deadline of 8 April, after opening for applications on 25 February. These grants are intended to support “top researchers” who are looking to pursue their independent research via a team or a new programme of investigation.
What other grants are available soon?
On 11 March the call for Consolidator Grants for researchers who are consolidating their own independent research team or programme will open, with a budget of €633 million. The deadline for applications is 20 April.
Finally, on 20 May the European Research Council will launch a call for Advanced Grants for leading advanced investigators, with a budget of €626 million and deadline on 31 August.
‘They are the future of European research’
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Research, Innovation, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “I am very pleased that we have today adopted the Work Programme of the European Research Council. This important step paves the way for launching calls that support top researchers and their teams to pursue frontier research at different stages of their careers.
“The first call will support young researchers across Europe who are starting their own independent research team or programme. They are the future of European research.”
To understand the five key missions of Horizon Europe, read our explainer.
