291 young researchers across Europe receive €429 million in grants

The European Research Council (ERC) has announced today the awarding of its Starting Grants to 291 early-career researchers. The funding, worth in total €429 million and up to €1.5 million per grant, will enable them to set up their own research teams and pursue ground breaking ideas. The grants are awarded under the 'excellent science' pillar of Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation programme.

On this occasion, Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: "We need to keep our most talented researchers in Europe while attracting the new and diverse perspectives of top researchers from elsewhere in the world. These grants ensure many of the world's most exciting ideas are developed right here: giving researchers and scientists the freedom and security to pursue their careers and ambitions on our continent."

The President of the ERC, Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, said: "With the granting of two thirds of its support to younger researchers, the ERC has shown its strong commitment to backing up-and-coming talent. The latest funding round adds to the many Starting Grant holders already supported across Europe, allowing them to gain early independence and to go after their most creative ideas without preset themes. Europe needs to encourage such creativity and risky, cutting-edge research.

"This year, the number of grantees based in Central and Eastern Europe doubled. Although still a very low figure, I hope this will be the basis for a sustained positive trend."

The new grantees will work on a wide range of topics, such as exploring Earth's past climates, investigating neglected tropical diseases, and studying how diplomacy transforms under the pressure of new media. The funded research covers all disciplines: physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, and social science and humanities. ERC grants are awarded to researchers of any nationality based in, or willing to move to, Europe. In this competition, grantees of 38 nationalities received the funding.

 The number of grantees based in countries covered by the ERC initiative to widen participation, mainly in Central and Eastern Europe, increased compared with the past few years. Malta will host its first ERC grantee.

These grants will also enable the selected scientists to build their own research teams, engaging an estimated 1,000 postdocs and PhD students as ERC team members. The ERC thereby also contributes to supporting a new generation of top researchers in Europe.