The European Research Council (ERC) is not just a funding programme. Since 2007, it has become Europe’s most prestigious mark of scientific excellence. With an annual budget exceeding €2 billion under Horizon Europe (more than €16 billion for the period 2021–2027), the ERC funds frontier research with no thematic restrictions and under a single criterion: scientific excellence.
Obtaining an ERC grant represents a turning point in a research career. It means scientific independence, international leadership, the ability to build one’s own team, and the freedom to explore high-risk, high-impact ideas. However, it also means competing in one of the most demanding evaluation processes in the European research ecosystem, with success rates that rarely exceed 10–15%.
Scientific excellence is a necessary condition. Strategy is essential.
One programme, multiple schemes, one common level of excellence
The ERC offers several schemes tailored to different stages of a research career:
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Starting Grants (StG): for researchers building their first independent research group.
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Consolidator Grants (CoG): for researchers consolidating their scientific leadership.
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Advanced Grants (AdG): for senior researchers with an outstanding track record.
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Synergy Grants (SyG): for teams of 2–4 principal investigators addressing complex challenges collaboratively.
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ERC Plus Grants (ERC+): a new initiative designed for visionary researchers with bold and transformative ideas; projects that go beyond the scope of traditional ERC programmes and redefine the frontiers of science.
Although all schemes are based on excellence, competing for a Starting Grant is not the same as competing for an Advanced or a Synergy Grant. Each scheme has different expectations regarding track record, leadership and level of ambition. Having a great idea is not enough: it is essential to know how to position it within the appropriate scheme and how to align it with what the evaluation panel is actually expecting.
Why is specific ERC preparation essential?
The ERC is not evaluated in the same way as the rest of Horizon Europe programmes. The goal is not to demonstrate alignment with policy priorities or to justify immediate socio-economic impact. There is only one evaluation criterion — scientific excellence — understood in its most demanding and competitive sense.
During the evaluation process, the truly ground-breaking nature of the idea is considered first and foremost, together with its ambition and its potential to transform a field or open up a new one. The creativity and scientific leadership of the principal investigator are also assessed, as well as the deep coherence between the proposed vision, the methodology and the researcher’s previous track record.
In practice, this means something fundamental: an ERC proposal is not simply about writing well. It must be strategically constructed — from choosing the most appropriate panel, to precisely defining the scientific questions to be addressed, identifying risks and intellectual ambition, and ensuring methodological coherence.
It also involves presenting the CV and track record strategically, demonstrating independence, leadership and the real capacity to carry out transformative research. In ERC proposals, every element communicates something: not only what the research aims to do, but also why that researcher is the right person to do it and why the timing is right.
The difference between an excellent proposal and a fundable one often lies precisely in this strategic construction.
Specialised training to compete at the highest level
Competing in ERC calls requires more than simply knowing the rules of the programme. It requires understanding the evaluation process, how track records are compared in contexts of extreme excellence, and how to build a scientific narrative capable of standing out among hundreds — sometimes thousands — of top-level proposals.
For this reason, our ERC training sessions are not informational seminars. They are strategic working spaces aimed at researchers and institutions seeking to position themselves at the highest competitive level. They are based on our experience supporting ERC applicants and on up-to-date knowledge of the programme, its recent changes and the evolution of evaluation criteria.
We work on the deeper logic of the ERC: how to translate a scientifically excellent idea into a distinctive and evaluable proposal. We analyse what “frontier research” truly means, what the ERC expects when referring to “ground-breaking” projects, and how to build credible ambition aligned with the track record of the researcher leading the proposal.
Through both theoretical and practical content, the training strategically addresses key aspects such as:
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The ERC philosophy: what distinguishes ERC calls from the rest of Horizon Europe and why proposals require a radically different approach.
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The specificities of each scheme (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, Synergy and ERC+): evaluation nuances, expected profiles and strategic decisions associated with each modality.
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How the evaluation process works: understanding ERC evaluation criteria, key factors at each stage and the decision-making dynamics within panels.
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Building the scientific narrative: strategic preparation of Parts B1 and B2 of the proposal, which serve different objectives while ensuring alignment with programme expectations.
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Positioning leadership: how to select and present achievements strategically in the CV and Track Record to demonstrate the intellectual capacity required to lead ambitious, transformative research.
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Panel selection: a strategic decision that determines the profile of evaluators and therefore influences how the proposal is assessed.
In schemes such as ERC+, where ambition and track record carry even greater weight, this strategic work becomes decisive.
Key months for reflection and positioning
Experience shows that competitive ERC proposals are not built in the weeks before the submission deadline. The months prior to the opening of the call are critical to:
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Assess the real maturity of the idea.
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Analyse its fit within the most appropriate scheme.
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Refine the scientific vision from a strategic perspective.
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Design the conceptual architecture before entering the writing phase.
Our training programmes are designed precisely to support researchers and institutions at this critical moment — helping them anticipate, make informed decisions and build strong proposals from the outset.
For those who have already decided to apply, the training can also be complemented with strategic review services and personalised support in proposal preparation, integrating training and expert guidance within the same pathway.
Because in ERC calls, scientific excellence is necessary — but strategy is what turns that excellence into funding.
Proven experience with national and international institutions
Speaking about ERC strategy requires real experience to support it. Over the years, Kveloce has delivered more than 400 services related to ERC calls, supporting researchers and institutions across different schemes and stages of the process — from strategic training to proposal review and interview preparation.
This work has contributed to more than 60 ERC-funded projects, reflecting not only knowledge of the programme but also the ability to transform scientific excellence into competitive proposals.
We have delivered specialised training at leading institutions within the Spanish research ecosystem, such as the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UaB), the Fundación para el Conocimiento MADRI+D and CRETUS (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela). Our work has supported researchers at different career stages and adapted training content to the specific needs of each institution.
At the international level, we have collaborated with organisations such as the University of Agder (Norway) and SWPS University (Poland), strengthening their strategic positioning in ERC calls and contributing to the consolidation of internal capacities for preparing excellence-driven proposals.
Our approach combines three key elements:
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Deep and up-to-date knowledge of the ERC programme and its evolution.
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Extensive experience supporting real ERC applications across different schemes.
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A strategic perspective focused on translating scientific excellence into competitive proposals.
Training in ERC calls is not about explaining a funding programme — it is about transmitting the competitive logic that enables researchers and institutions to position themselves successfully in the most demanding arena of European research funding.
Excellence requires preparation
Success in ERC calls is not the result of chance, nor solely of having a good idea. It is the outcome of rigorous preparation, a deep understanding of the programme and its evaluation criteria, and a well-articulated scientific strategy.
ERC calls reward boldness, but also the ability to structure a transformative vision with clarity, coherence and credibility. In such a competitive environment, every decision — from defining the research question to selecting the evaluation panel — can make the difference.
If you are considering applying for a Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, Synergy or ERC Plus Grant, the right time to begin is not when the call opens, but much earlier.
Because in the ERC, excellence is only the starting point: funding comes when that excellence becomes a strong and convincing proposal.
