The Call for Proposals ERC-2011-PoC aims to bridge the gap between their research and the earliest stage of a marketable innovation. European Research Council (ERC) grant holders will therefore be given the opportunity to apply for additional funding to establish the innovation potential of ideas arising from their ERC-funded frontier research projects. This targeted new initiative will capture the maximum value from frontier research by getting good ideas to market.

It aims at supporting ERC grant holders to prepare a package to be presented to venture capitalists or companies that may invest in this technology and take it through the early commercialisation phase.

The activities will be funded under Coordination and Support Actions for European Research Council ERC Proof of Concept.

The “Proof of Concept” provides translational funding to speed outcomes of research onto the market place. ERC grant holders will be able to use the funding for activities such as technical validation, market research, clarifying intellectual property right position and strategy, or investigating commercial and business opportunities.

The Community provisional funding available for the call for proposals is:

• 10,00 Million EUR (Orientation of the budget)

• 03 May 2012 - 11 years ago (Deadline for the presentation of proposals)
• 03 October 2012 - 11 years ago (Deadline for the presentation of proposals)

• Official page of the Call

• Call - ERC Proof of Concept (Legal base)

Opened to the following bodies or institutes with legal status established in the covered areas:

• Public authorities (all)
• Any legal organisation
• Enterprises
• SMEs

Bodies or institutes must have their registered legal seat in one of the countries taking part in the Programme which are:

• European Union (EU)
• Third countries

Directorate-General for Research

• Call for Proposals - ERC Proof of Concept
• Call for proposals - ERC Consolidator Grant
• Call for proposals - ERC Synergy Grant
• Call for proposals to support ERC monitoring and evaluation strategy (gender aspects) - Coordination and Support Action
• Call for Proposals - ERC Advanced Investigators Grant