ERC Proof of Concept Grant
Deadline: 17 September 2026
ERC Proof of Concept (PoC) Grants support the exploration of commercial and social innovation potential arising from ERC funded frontier research.
PoC grants help Principal Investigators move their research closer to real world application, bridging the gap between discovery and impact.
The PIs should plan to commit the requisite time needed to deliver the project, as it will be performed under their guidance.
Who can apply
Principal Investigators who have:
- an ongoing ERC main grant
or - an ERC main grant that ended on or after 1 January 2025
Eligible ERC main grants
Eligibility requirements
The PoC proposal must draw substantially on the PI’s ERC‑funded research.
Applicants must clearly demonstrate the direct link between the proposed proof‑of‑concept activity and the underlying ERC frontier research project.