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

In the framework of VES 2024

The proposer, later investigator, shall meet the condition that no more than 8 years (for VES 2024J the relevant year is 2015) have elapsed since the award of the academic degree of Ph.D. or equivalent, or will have obtained it no later than the date of conclusion of the contract/issuance of the project decision.

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.

In the framework of VES 2021, VES 2022 and VES 2023

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 VES, continue to apply even if the grant is awarded, throughout the entire duration of the project and any changes.

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.