ERC (Starting / Consolidator / Advanced / Synergy): how many partners do you need?

ERC is PI-driven: plan around one host (or a small Synergy team), not a large collaborative consortium.

This page focuses on ERC (Starting / Consolidator / Advanced / Synergy). The calculator below is pre-set to this action type — paste a call identifier to enrich the curated range with medians from funded CORDIS projects on GRANTIBASE. Figures are indicative, not official Commission advice.

Standard ERC grants are PI-centred (host institution). Synergy Grants involve a small group of PIs — still not a classic multi-partner Horizon consortium. Always check the ERC Work Programme.

Typical consortium size

1 host institution (or a small Synergy PI team)

Common range: 1 PI host (Synergy up to ~4 PIs)

ERC is PI-driven: plan around one host (or a small Synergy team), not a large collaborative consortium.

Eligibility note: Standard ERC grants are PI-centred (host institution). Synergy Grants involve a small group of PIs — still not a classic multi-partner Horizon consortium. Always check the ERC Work Programme.
Typical coordinator: Principal Investigator hosted by an eligible institution; Synergy involves a small team of PIs.

Indicative guidance based on typical Horizon Europe patterns — not official Commission advice. Always read the specific call conditions.

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Other action types

Compare typical consortium sizes across Horizon Europe, EIC, MSCA, and ERC actions.

Consortium size calculator hub