Applications for the ERC Mentoring Initiative Are Now Open

Applications are now open for the ERC Mentoring Initiative, designed for researchers preparing to apply for European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant and Consolidator Grant programs.

Conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) and the Polish Academy of Sciences—and supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education—the program aims to support researchers in the humanities and social sciences, particularly those from Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, who plan to submit an ERC application during the 2028–2029 period.

Under the program, academics with international experience—who have previously served on ERC evaluation panels or led ERC projects—will provide mentorship to participants. During the mentoring process, researchers will receive personalized feedback aimed at refining the scientific content, research design, and overall structure of their project ideas.

The initiative is specifically designed for researchers in fields such as history, anthropology, political science, sociology, science and technology studies, and cultural and literary studies. The next mentoring workshop will be held online on December 4–5, 2026. Participation in the program is free of charge, and the working language is English.

Click here for detailed information and to apply.