ERC Advanced Grants provide an opportunity to established, innovative and active scientists and scholars to pursue ground-breaking, high-risk research that opens new directions in any field of their choice regardless of nationality, age or current location.

By awarding grants on a competitive basis solely on the criterion of excellence the ERC will establish clear benchmarks for quality which will help to raise the level of all European research.

In these ways the grants will complement and add value to existing research funding streams and investments at the national and European levels.