EU Allocates €761 Million for the Advancement of Tomorrow's Brilliant Scientists Across Europe

The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the winners of its annual Starting Grants, awarding a total of €761 million under the EU's Horizon Europe programme. This round of grants, estimated to create around 3,000 jobs, supports excellent research across diverse fields, including physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

A highly competitive selection process attracted 3,928 proposals, with 12% of the proposals selected for funding. The successful candidates will each receive up to €1.5 million for a maximum period of five years to launch their own projects, build research teams, and pursue promising ideas.

The proposed projects span diverse fields, with some examples in Physical Sciences and Engineering including research on advanced materials, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence. In Life Sciences, proposed projects range from cancer research, mental health studies, and quantum biology. Researchers in Social Sciences and Humanities will be working on projects related to economics, sociology, history, and philosophy.

The winners of the grants come from Europe and beyond, with 51 different nationalities amongst the grantees. Among the countries where the candidates will be working are Germany (99 grants), the Netherlands (44), and France (41). However, a detailed list of all 478 researchers and their precise locations is not provided in the available sources.

These researchers will be advancing knowledge across a wide range of fields, including research on cancer, mental health, and quantum science. As part of Horizon Europe, this round of grants is expected to foster innovation and drive progress in these areas, ultimately contributing to the betterment of society.

EU Allocates €761 Million for the Advancement of Tomorrow's Brilliant Scientists Across Europe