EU grants €721 million for advanced scientific research

Europe Investing Heavily in Excellent Research with ERC Grants

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded €721 million to 281 leading researchers across Europe, as part of the EU's Horizon Europe program. This funding is aimed at supporting senior researchers to pursue ambitious projects that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs.

Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva reiterated that these ERC grants are a commitment to making Europe the world's hub for excellent research. In future competition rounds, scientists moving to Europe will receive greater support in setting up their labs and research teams.

The winning researchers will be based in 23 EU Member States and associated countries, including the UK (56 grants), Germany (35), Italy (25), the Netherlands (24), and France (23). Among the winners are 45 Germans, 37 Italians, 26 Britons, and 22 French, as well as researchers of 28 other nationalities.

The funded projects cover a wide range of subjects. Some will investigate how diet and exercise affect brain cells related to aging, while others will create AI digital twins that mirror and enhance human thought and social skills. The grants will also support researchers exploring the hidden oceans on Jupiter's and Saturn's moons.

One of the most promising areas of research is the development of a preventive vaccine for hereditary breast cancer. This could potentially save countless lives and significantly reduce the burden of this disease on families worldwide.

The funding for these grants is part of the EU's overall budget for research and innovation, which is €95.5 billion for the Horizon Europe program. The grants are seen as an investment in the future prosperity and resilience of the continent.

While the specific names of the four German researchers awarded the ERC Advanced Grants in 2021 could not be found in the provided information, historically notable German recipients include Thomas Blankenstein, Norbert Hübner, Zsuzsanna Izsvák, and Michael Gotthardt among others.

The grants are estimated to create approximately 2,700 jobs in the teams of the new grantees. With such a significant investment in research and innovation, Europe is positioning itself as a global leader in scientific advancement and technological progress.