Set up by the European Union in 2007, the European Research Council is a funding organisation for research, they have now announced a major investment in the future of science with the award of 494 Starting Grants, totalling nearly €780 million, to young scientists and scholars across Europe
Part of Horizon Europe these grants will offer young people and scientists ERC grants that will support research in a wide range of fields.
The ERC’s process attracted 3,474 proposals from researchers of 51 nationalities. The grants, totalling €1.5 million each over five years, not only support scientific inquiry but also promote job creation, with an estimated 3,160 positions expected within the teams of new grantees.
European Research Council: The projects that received funding
The projects selected for funding span institutions in 24 EU Member States and associated countries, reflecting Europe’s commitment to promoting scientific projects across its diverse research landscape.
Germany leads with 98 grants, followed by the Netherlands with 51, the UK with 50, and France with 49.
44% of the grants were awarded to female researchers, marking a significant increase from previous years and reinforcing the ERC’s dedication to gender equality in science.
Some of the recipients include a biochemist in the UK who aims to unravel how viruses evolve to infect cells, while a researcher in Germany explores the integration of human-like tasks in robots. In Spain, advanced laser techniques are under scrutiny for fire prevention, and in the Netherlands, a psychologist investigates the impact of (dis)information on teenagers.
How do projects get selected for funding?
As part of the Horizon Europe programme, the were 494 successful proposals, in this 3,474 applications were received and 14.2 % of these proposals were selected for funding. This is expected to create 3,160 jobs within the teams and new graduates.
The ERC looks to support cutting-edge research from different fields, including life science, social science and humanities and continues to play a role in driving economic growth and technological advancements in Europe.
For more information about the ERC and its grant schemes, visit their official website.
