As stated in the February ACA Newsletter-Education Europe, the European Research Council, the first pan-European funding organisation to support research in all fields of science, has formally openned its first online application for research proposals covering any field of science and technology, including the social sciences and humanities. Such proposals need to be lead by a single starting research team that will work in Europe, regardless of nationality and be submitted through the new electronic application tool launched this month.

ERC Starting Grants will amount to €100,000 and €400,000 per year for a period of up to 5 years. The level of grant will be determined by the nature of the project and team, based on an evaluation by a panel of peers.

Deadline: 25 April 2007

Call Budget: € 300,000,000

Number of grants: approx. 200