Three programmes we help you with. Each has a link to the official website with the current call conditions. This website does not copy them, it points you to them.
ERC
Pursue ambitious ideas. Lead groundbreaking research.
The European Research Council (ERC) funds frontier research led by excellent researchers with innovative, high-risk/high-gain ideas. It supports investigator-driven projects in any scientific field, with scientific excellence as the sole evaluation criterion.
- Starting Grant (StG): for researchers ready to launch their independent research career and establish their own team. Eligibility (2027): PhD awarded within the previous 10 years.*
- Consolidator Grant (CoG): for researchers consolidating their independence and strengthening their research programme. Eligibility (2027): PhD awarded 5–15 years ago.*
- Advanced Grant (AdG): for established scientific leaders with a recognised track record of significant achievements.
- Synergy Grant (SyG): for 2–4 Principal Investigators combining complementary expertise to tackle ambitious scientific challenges.
- Proof of Concept (PoC): for ERC grant holders seeking to explore the innovation potential of ERC-funded research results.
* Extensions may apply under specific circumstances.
MSCA
Develop your skills. Expand your network. Boost your career.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) support researchers holding a PhD who wish to gain new knowledge through international mobility, advanced training, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Fellowships are open to all research fields and encourage experience across academic and non-academic sectors.
- Postdoctoral Fellowships: individual fellowships for postdoctoral researchers.
- Doctoral Networks: doctoral programmes run by consortia.
- Staff Exchanges: staff exchanges between institutions.
- COFUND: co-funding of doctoral and postdoctoral programmes.
Impulz
Secure funding for your research at the Slovak Academy of Sciences and establish your own research team.
The Impulz Programme is a grant scheme of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. It enables excellent researchers from Slovakia and abroad to pursue their research ideas and establish their own research team at an SAS institute.
- For researchers with international experience who want to work at SAS.
- Multi-year funding for both the research project and the research team.
- Calls are announced by SAS; deadlines are in our calendar.
ERC 2027 eligibility: is your PhD in the right window?
| ERC 2027 call | Years after PhD | Reference date | Basic eligible PhD period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Grant | >0 and ≤10 years | 1 January 2027 | 1 Jan 2017 – 31 Dec 2026 |
| Consolidator Grant | >5 and ≤15 years | 1 January 2027 | 1 Jan 2012 – 31 Dec 2021 |
Extensions may apply under specific circumstances (for example maternity or parental leave, long-term illness, clinical training). The exact rules are in the ERC Work Programme; we are happy to help you assess them.
Which programme is right for me?
If you are not sure, write to us. A few sentences about your research and career stage are enough; we will suggest where to aim.