European Research Council
Are you an excellent researcher looking for competitive long-term funding for your ground-breaking fundamental research? Then ERC funding might be interesting for you! The European Research Council (ERC) provides funding for the implementation of ground-breaking research for a period of 5 (6) years.
The ERC programme, provides a distinctive funding mechanism devoted to scientific excellence for all scientific fields (bottom-up call).
Currently, Vrije Universiteit Brussel proudly hosts several ERC-projects and their Principal Investigators.
Funding & Grants
Funding & Grants
The following types of grants are available:
- Starting Grants (1.5 mio euro for 5 years, for researchers with 2-7 years postdoctoral experience*)
- Consolidator Grants (2 mio euro for 5 years, for researchers with 7-12 years postdoctoral experience*)
- Advanced Grants (2.5 mio euro for 5 years, for established senior researchers)
- Synergy Grants (10 mio euro for 6 years, for 2-4 Principal Investigators at any stage in their career)
- Proof of Concept (lump sum 150 keur) for ERC grantees to cover activities at the very early stage of turning research outputs into a commercial or socially valuable proposition
*Extensions of the eligibility period are possible based on documented absence for parental leave, long-term illness, military service or clinical training. Check the ERC Work Programme for more details.
What does Vrije Universiteit Brussel offer you?
As an applicant
Individual support and scouting in the proposal writing stage: screening of the applicants profile - training for ERC proposal writing - set-up of the project budget - assistance with the ethical issues - review of the proposal in cooperation with external consultants - preparatory pitching and mock interviews.
As a successful ERC-grantee
- A tenure track offered by the VUB Research Council.
- A wide range of career development opportunities and dedicated communication.
- Appropriate working conditions for the implementation of the project.
- Full administrative, legal and financial support.
Why choose VUB as your host institution?
Research groups at VUB have a proven track record with high publication scores, successful participation in national and internationally funded research projects, as well as excellence in research facilities present on all four campuses. VUB works from the premise that research excellence originates from a bottom-up approach with researchers initiating their own path. Funding takes place across domains where only the best applications are selected through competition.
The VUB is the number one Brussels organization in number of participations to the Horizon 2020 programme.
Scoring high on the number of scientific co-publications, VUB contributes to the Brussels-Capital Region being a European Innovation Leader. As an international university, VUB’s working language is English.
With its partners, the VUB has been chosen by the European Commission as one of the first pilot projects for developing a “European University”: the EUTOPIA alliance of 10 European Universities Transforming to an Open Inclusive Academy.
General facilities
The VUB has excellent services that are flexible, customised and well-organised. Computer facilities and strong (wireless) internet connections are available as well as access to technology platforms, research facilities, and the university library. The VUB International Relations & Mobility Office assists the incoming researcher before and after their arrival in Brussels with administrative matters such as visa permits, registration and health insurance.
The university houses 8 joint research infrastructures, autonomous units within the VUB that have highly qualified personnel and specialized equipment which is available to the research community at economic prices. From statistical-methodological support over microscopy and cellsorters to a cleanroom for microfluidics and much more - researchers can find it all in our core facilities.
