Is there an age limit for projects submitted under Subprogramme 2 (Support for the development of junior researchers)?

As part of the VES 2024, VES 2025, and VES 2026 competitions

The proposer, later investigator, meets the condition that no more than 8 years have elapsed since the award of a Ph.D. degree or its equivalent, or will obtain it no later than the date of conclusion of the contract/issuance of the decision on the project.

If the proposer has been on maternity or parental leave, has suffered a long-term illness, or has interrupted his/her scientific career for similar objective reasons, the time limit of 8 years from the award of the academic degree of Ph.D. or its equivalent is increased by this period. These facts (award of the degree, parental leave, etc.) shall be documented by the applicant by means of an affidavit.

As part of the VES 2021, VES 2022 and VES 2023 competitions

The investigator, co-investigator and all professional collaborators must be at most 35 years old in the year of the competition announcement. Only one exception is allowed per team, one member of the team, i.e. the scientific collaborator, may be aged 45 years or older in the year of the competition.

In the framework of VES 2020

The investigator must be at most 35 years of age in the year of the competition announcement

These rules, according to the given VES, remain in force even if a grant is awarded, throughout the entire duration of the project and within the framework of any changes. For VES 2020 – VES 2023 projects, in justified cases, the condition of obtaining a Ph.D. may be used instead of age for the applicant.

The proposer/investigator is the person responsible to the applicant/beneficiary for the project.

The Co-proposer/Co-investigator is the person responsible to the Co-applicant/Co-recipient for the sub-project.

An expert collaborator is a named member of the research team with a fixed time and salary or is hired on a contract basis who is not designated as a technical, administrative or support staff member. The name, surname and date of birth must be completed.