New pilot scheme 'Synergy Grant'

In recent years, small research groups of principal investigators and their teams have emerged as an increasingly productive link in the research chain. These groups often tackle interdisciplinary research problems, pooling together their expertise, knowledge and resources. Building on its two core funding schemes supporting individual researchers, the Eurpopean Research Council is launching a new pilot initiative - the 'Synergy Grant' - to fund small groups of excellent researchers to push forward the frontiers of knowledge.

The ERC aims to support proposals that demonstrate the complementarity and added-value of joint research leading to breakthroughs that would not necessarily be possible to achieve without the proposed group configuration. Groups of between two to four researchers can apply for a maximum grant of € 15 Mio for a period of up to six years. The total funding of the first pilot 'Synergy Grant' call is € 150 Mio, representing approximately 10% of the 2012 ERC budget for calls. No more than 10 to 15 'Synergy Grants' will be awarded in 2012, and only exceptional proposals are likely to be funded.

The first call will be published on 25 October 2011 with a deadline for submission in January 2012. For more information, see http://erc.europa.eu/funding-schemes/synergy-grants.