ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS
HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
€150K - €150K
13/03/2025
Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
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What is the ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS Call?
Expected Outcomes
• Development of prototypes, demonstrators or proof-of-concept outputs evidencing feasibility.
• Market, stakeholder and regulatory analyses informing go-to-market or deployment strategies.
• Defined IP protection and exploitation roadmaps to secure competitive advantage.
• Formulation of a credible business or implementation plan ready for follow-on investment or commercialization.
• Strengthened partnerships and networks with industry, investors, regulators or end-users.
• Enhanced readiness of ERC-derived innovations for scale-up, licensing, spin-off creation or social impact pathways.
• Seal of Excellence award for high-quality but unfunded proposals, facilitating access to alternative funding sources.
Scope Requirements
• Synergy Grant PIs need written consent from all co-PIs; each may submit one PoC application.
• Host Institution must be a legal entity in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country; must engage the PI for the project’s duration and have a gender equality plan (or equivalent strategic document meeting Annex 5 requirements).
• Grant is a lump sum of EUR 150 000 for up to 18 months (proof-of-concept activities normally within 12 months; extensions only in exceptional cases).
• Up to three PoC Grants per main grant (six for Synergy Grants); parallel awards permitted if eligibility conditions met.
• Proposals must be complete, within a strict ten-page Part B limit (excluding headers, title, abstract, references, risk table), and submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal by cut-off deadlines (13 Mar 2025 and 18 Sep 2025 at 17:00 Brussels time).
Special Conditions
• PIs with proposals previously rejected for research-integrity breaches under WP 2023 or 2024 are ineligible.
• Maximum three PoCs per main grant (six for Synergy Grants); host institution support letter required.
• Strict formatting: A4, Times New Roman (or similar) font ≥ 11 pt, single spacing, 2 cm side margins, 1.5 cm top/bottom, ten-page limit—material beyond limit will not be evaluated.
• Applicants under administrative exclusion or subject to EU Financial Regulation sanctions cannot participate.
• Gender equality plan requirement for eligible host institutions.
Open from: 13/11/2024
Deadline:13/03/2025
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