Proof of Concept (PoC) 2026: Call for proposals open, clarification of project duration
The 2026 PoC call has been formally opened since 20 January. The work programme originally announced 13 November 2025 as the opening date.
The 2026 PoC call has been formally opened since 20 January. The work programme originally announced 13 November 2025 as the opening date.
Ther 2026er PoC-Call has been formally opened since 20 January. The work programme originally announced 13 November 2025 as the opening date. However, the PoC call was affected by the update of the ERC's 2026 working programme, which led to a delay. The updated work programme now contains clearer information on the duration of a PoC project: this is 18 months and an extension is possible in justified cases. In previous work programmes, it was stated that PoC projects should generally be completed within 12 months. However, the grant agreement was concluded for 18 months in order to avoid an amendment in the case of projects that took longer than expected. This wording was prone to misunderstanding. The submission deadline is not affected by the later opening of the call.
The first cut-off deadline for the 2026 PoC call is 17 March 2026. The ERC NCP will accept proposals for review until 24 February 2026, 5 p.m.