Formally a part of FP7, the European Research Council (ERC) is the first European funding body set up to support investigator-driven frontier research. It is governed by a independent group of eminent scientists, the Scientific Council. Implementation of the ERC funding programmes is performed by the ERC Executive Agency.
The ERC funds research performance in Europe by excellent individual scientists in all fields of research and scholarship.
ERC grants are awarded through open competition to projects headed by starting and established researchers, irrespective of their origins, who are working or moving to work in Europe - the sole criterion for selection is scientific excellence. The aim is to recognise the best ideas, and retain and confer status and visibility to the best brains in Europe, while also attracting talent from abroad.