ERA Chairs

What is this call about?

The call funds research organisations and research infrastructures in Widening countries to recruit an outstanding researcher as ERA Chair holder and set up a permanent research group. The institution applies alone as the sole beneficiary.

What does this call fund?

Scope

The call helps research organisations and research infrastructures in Widening countries attract an outstanding researcher or innovator, the ERA Chair holder, in any scientific domain. The ERA Chair holder may come from any country but may not already have a contractual relationship with the coordinating entity. The aim is to build a permanent, high-quality research group and drive institutional reforms aligned with ERA priorities.

What proposals should include

• A Europass CV of the prospective ERA Chair holder, uploaded as an annex.
• Relevant investments of the coordinator in research projects, facilities and infrastructures, and arrangements for compliance with ERA priorities, including the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment.
• Contractual arrangements, time commitment, on-site presence and remuneration of the ERA Chair holder.
• Team composition, researcher levels, salaries and recruitment timelines, the planned structural reforms, and quantified expected impacts supported by periodic indicators.

Key conditions for the research group

• A minimum 50% full-time equivalent commitment of the ERA Chair holder, including on-site presence, must be ensured at least until a permanent research group leader is appointed; if the leader is someone else, the ERA Chair holder should remain committed at least 20% for the rest of the project.
• Recruitment of the research team must follow an open, transparent and merit-based process.
• The group leader should be appointed permanently within the first three years through an open recruitment process monitored by the European Commission.
• At least 20% of newly appointed group members should hold permanent positions, and no more than 50% should have prior contractual links to the host institution.

Eligible costs

The grant covers salaries, recruitment, travel and administrative expenses related to the ERA Chair holder and research team, as well as consumables and equipment up to 10% of the EU contribution.

Expected outcomes

Expected outcomes include greater mobility of research talent towards Widening countries, institutional reforms, stronger research excellence in the chosen field, and improved success in EU and global competitive funding.

When is the deadline?

14 September 2027 (312 days)