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Call for applications to the ERC-MENTOR Program

Start preparing early for your ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant application!

The ERC-MENTOR Program aims to support researchers based in Hungary in preparing competitive applications for the prestigious Starting Grant and Consolidator Grant schemes of the European Research Council (ERC), thereby contributing to an increase in the number of successful ERC applications from Hungary.

Building on the ERC-MENTOR initiative launched in 2026, the program offers researchers a further opportunity to prepare for future ERC applications well in advance, with expert guidance and structured support. In this next phase, we welcome both researchers who already have concrete plans to apply for ERC funding and those who are considering an ERC application as a longer-term career goal.

In the next phase of the program, we particularly welcome researchers who intend to apply in the upcoming ERC Starting Grant (expected submission deadline in October 2027) or Consolidator Grant (expected submission deadline in January 2028) funding rounds. Although the relevant calls have not yet been published, we firmly believe that developing a competitive ERC proposal requires careful preparation well ahead of the submission deadline.

We particularly encourage applications from early-career researchers who may not yet have a specific submission date in mind but intend to apply for ERC funding in the coming years. The programme offers them an opportunity to familiarise themselves with ERC expectations, strategically develop their research profiles, and gradually shape their research ideas into internationally competitive proposals.

The program's kick-off event will take place on
Friday, 20 November 2026, from 14:00 to 16:00
at the HUN-REN Institute of Experimental Medicine (KOKI), 1083 Budapest, Szigony utca 43.

The ERC-MENTOR program will be introduced by
András Stipsicz, President of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network,
followed by a Q&A session with the programme's experts:

PE – Physical Sciences & Engineering
Maria Lugaro, HUN-REN CSFK

LS – Life Sciences
Judit Makara, HUN-REN KOKI

SH – Social Sciences & Humanities
Sándor Horváth, ELTE HTK

Prospective ERC Applicants
Miklós Abért, HUN-REN Rényi

What does the ERC-MENTOR Program offer?

The program provides practical, hands-on support from distinguished researchers and experts with extensive ERC experience.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

  • gain a thorough understanding of the specific requirements and evaluation criteria of ERC Starting and Consolidator Grant applications;

  • learn about the structure of successful ERC proposals and gain insights into the perspectives of ERC evaluators;

  • receive expert feedback on their own research ideas;

  • further develop their research concepts, application strategies and presentation skills;

  • exchange experiences with other researchers preparing for ERC applications.

Mentoring activities will be organised across three broad scientific domains:

  • PE – Physical Sciences & Engineering

  • LS – Life Sciences

  • SH – Social Sciences & Humanities

Who should apply?

We welcome applications from researchers and academic staff who:

  • intend to submit an ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant application in 2027/2028;

  • are considering applying for ERC funding in subsequent years and wish to start preparing well in advance;

  • are developing an ambitious, independent research programme and are open to expert feedback and mentoring.

What is required to apply?

Applicants are asked to submit a CV and a brief research concept of no more than one page (a one-page pitch), outlining the research topic they would like to pursue through a future ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant.

The one-page pitch should briefly address the following questions:

  • What is the central research question or core idea of the proposed project?

  • Why is the research problem important and novel?

  • What new scientific insights or breakthroughs could the proposed research lead to?

A fully developed ERC proposal or detailed research plan is not required at this stage. The purpose of the one-page pitch is to provide an initial overview of the applicant's research idea, which can subsequently be refined and developed through the mentoring programme.

We also encourage applications from researchers whose ideas are still at an early stage of development and who would like to use the mentoring program to turn them into the basis of a future ERC proposal.

Applications and further information

Further information about the program and the application process is available on the ERC-MENTOR website:
https://erc-mentor.renyi.hu

If you are considering applying for an ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant in the coming years, now is an excellent time to begin preparing. We warmly invite you to apply to the ERC-MENTOR program!