This report presents the findings of the external evaluation of the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) for the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2024. The evaluation, conducted in line with the European Commission’s Better Regulation guidelines and Article 25 of Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003, assesses ERCEA’s effectiveness, efficiency, and coherence in managing the ERC programme delegated by its parent Directorate-General (DG). 

To answer the study’s evaluation questions, a mixed-method evaluation approach was applied. Key elements included a systematic desk review of legislation, reports, and internal documents, as well as an analysis of monitoring data. Two large-scale online surveys were administered: one targeting beneficiaries and unsuccessful applicants (principal investigators and host institutions), and another aimed at external experts involved in proposal evaluation. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a range of stakeholders, including European Commission officials, ERCEA staff, ERC Scientific Council members, beneficiaries (Principal Investigators and Host Institutions), unsuccessful applicants, external experts, and National Contact Points. The study also incorporated a retrospective cost-benefit analysis comparing actual resource use and costs with ex-ante projections and alternative management scenarios.