This Specific Programme aims at reinforce dynamism, creativity, and excellence of frontier research in Europe. To this end, this programme encourages “investigator-driven projects” developed by research groups competing at a European level across all study fields, allowing these to choose independently directions for research, rather than be led by priorities set by FP7 themes.

For its implementation a European Research Council (ERC) has been established. The ERC will award grants, through open competition, to projects led by young and established researchers working in Europe; selection will be based solely on excellence.

ERC awards the following grants:

• ERC Starting Grants are aimed at researchers with 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD (or equivalent), a promising scientific track record, and up-and-coming research leaders who are about to establish a research team and start conducting indepentent research in Europe.
• ERC Consolidator Grants are aimed at highly promising researchers wuth 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD, with proven potential of independence ans scientific experience.
• ERC Advanced Grants targets researchers who have already established themselves as independent research leaders in their own right conducting high-risk projects that open new directions in their respective field.
• ERC Synergy Grants enable a small group of Principal Investigators and their teams to pool complementary skills, knowledge, and resources in new ways so as to jointly address research problems.