Is your ERC proposal ready to convince evaluators?
Download our free ERC readiness checklist and stress-test your research idea before you start writing
A strong ERC proposal is not built in the final weeks before the deadline. It starts with a clear scientific vision, a visible breakthrough, and a project narrative that evaluators can immediately understand.
This practical self-assessment, developed by our ERC Excellence Group, helps you evaluate whether your project is ready for an ERC application and where it may need further development.
What will you learn?
Use this checklist to assess whether your ERC idea is ready to move into proposal development.
19 key questions
To evaluate your ERC readiness and help you look at your proposal from an evaluator’s perspective.
A practical scoring system
To identify strengths and gaps.
Guidance on research vision
Breakthrough potential and project narrative.
Main ERC 2026/2027 call dates
And practical next steps depending on your readiness score.
Before you start writing, ask yourself the right questions
Many ERC proposals are not rejected because the science is weak. They fail because the ambition, breakthrough potential or evaluator journey is not clear enough.
This checklist helps you reflect on the questions that matter before investing time in full proposal writing.
PNO Innovation recently supported the review of “Towards a Theory of Rational Desire”, an ERC Starting Grant project led by Olav Benjamin Vassend and awarded €998,632.
“Sophie's feedback on my grant proposal was very specific and useful. It unquestionably made the proposal a lot clearer and more convincing than it otherwise would have been.”
Preparing for an ERC Starting Grant 2027?
The ERC Starting Grant 2027 call is expected to open on 22 July 2026, with a deadline on 14 October 2026.
That means now is the right moment to challenge your research idea, define the breakthrough and make sure your proposal story is clear before writing becomes too advanced.
Main ERC 2026/2027 call dates
| ERC call | Opening date | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| ERC Advanced Grant 2026 | - | 27 August 2026 |
| ERC Plus Grant 2026 | - | 2 September 2026 |
| ERC Proof of Concept Grant 2026 | - | 17 September 2026 |
| ERC Starting Grant 2027 | 22 July 2026 | 14 October 2026 |
| ERC Consolidator Grant 2027 | 24 September 2026 | 12 January 2027 |
| ERC Synergy Grant 2027 | 17 February 2027 | 11 May 2027 |
| ERC Advanced Grant 2027 | 27 May 2027 | 26 August 2027 |
| ERC Plus Grant 2027 | 1 June 2027 | 1 September 2027 |
Dates are provisional and should always be checked against the latest official ERC information and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
How PNO Innovation supports ERC applicants
We do not just review proposals. We help researchers shape ambitious project concepts before the writing process begins. The quality of an ERC proposal is often determined before the first page is written.
assessment
development
review
record review
preparation
guidance
Ready to stress-test your ERC idea?
Download the free checklist and assess whether your proposal is ready to convince evaluators.