Should early career researchers apply for ERC or FRIPRO funding?

For early career researchers looking to secure funding for ambitious projects, the European Research Council (ERC) provides one of the most prestigious funding opportunities.

However, applying for ERC funding requires careful consideration of timing, research readiness, and alternative funding sources such as FRIPRO.

 .

The right time to apply for ERC funding

ERC Starting Grants are designed for groundbreaking, high-risk, high-reward research that extends beyond incremental advancements. Researchers should consider applying when they meet the following criteria: 

1. Preliminary Data and a Strong Hypothesis – ERC funding is best suited for hypothesis-driven projects. While the ERC will fund some fieldwork and data collection, it does not typically support large-scale database building or exploratory research. Applicants should already have a dataset or strong preliminary results that point toward an innovative research question.

2. A Standalone Project – ERC prefers to be the primary funder of a project. This means that if the research is already supported by another major grant (such as the Norwegian Research Council’s FRIPRO), an ERC application may be less viable. It is crucial to ensure that the project is distinct and not simply a continuation of prior work.

3. International Scientific Relevance – ERC grants support research with global impact. Projects should address scientific questions that extend beyond national or regional interests, making findings applicable on a broader scale.

4. A Strong Publication Record – One essential ERC requirement is that applicants must have at least one publication without their PhD supervisor. This demonstrates research independence, a key criterion in ERC evaluations.

5. Sufficient Career Development – While ERC Starting Grants are available for researchers within 2 to 7 years of completing their PhD, applicants should have demonstrated growing independence and leadership in their field. This includes obtaining personal research funding, managing fieldwork, and leading projects. 

. 

When to consider FRIPRO instead 

For early career researchers who are still building their independence, FRIPRO (administered by the Research Council of Norway) may be a more suitable option. 

FRIPRO projects are typically more collaborative and incremental in nature, allowing researchers to rely more on institutional resources and established collaborations.

Additionally:

• FRIPRO may be more flexible in terms of funding structure, allowing researchers to include PhD or postdoc positions, as well as analysis costs.
• The funding amount is generally lower than ERC, but it is easier to integrate co-supervised PhD students and fieldwork components.
• If a researcher lacks an extensive publication record without their PhD supervisor, FRIPRO could serve as a stepping stone toward a later ERC application.

 .

Strategic considerations: ERC versus FRIPRO 

If a researcher is eligible for both ERC and FRIPRO, they should carefully assess their project's scope. A successful FRIPRO project can generate data and hypotheses that strengthen a future ERC application.

Applying for ERC funding too early carries risks: unsuccessful proposals can lead to you being barred for one year before reapplying.

. 

Conclusion 

ERC funding is an excellent opportunity for early career researchers who have already established their independence, have a compelling hypothesis-driven project, and are ready to lead a standalone, high-impact study. 

For those still developing their research portfolio, FRIPRO provides a strong alternative to build experience before stepping into the even more competitive ERC arena. 

For those considering an ERC, attending workshops, seeking mentorship, and reviewing past successful proposals (see below) can significantly enhance the chances of success.

 .

Upcoming ERC workshop in Tromsø 

There will be an UiT workshop on writing an winning ERC funding proposal on 24 April from 08.30–12.30. This is relevant to both early career and senior researchers. Book your place now. 

There will also be an ERC proposal reading day on 25 April, when you can read (but not copy) previous successful ERC proposals.

.

This blog was generated by ChatGPT based on insights from Theresa Mikalsen from UiT’s grants department. It was manually reviewed and edited by Till Bruckner from iC3 prior to publication. Any errors are the sole responsibility of Till Bruckner.