50 scientists awarded Proof of Concept grants

The European Research Council has announced 50 outstanding scientists who will receive Proof of Concept grants. This ‘top-up’ funding is designed to help researchers who already hold an ERC grant to test the market potential of their frontier research.

Worth up to €150,000, the Proof of Concept scheme assists ERC grant holders with costs relating to activities such as establishing intellectual property rights, investigating commercial and business opportunities (e.g. setting up a start-up) or technical validation (e.g. carrying out clinical tests).

ERC president Jean-Pierre Bourguignon commented: “More ERC grant winners apply for this call every year, which is a remarkable trend. It means that they see how their frontier research can be pushed beyond its initial frame and how their results can also be translated into marketable products and services. For them, this opens the way to a broader impact on society.”

A total of 182 proposals were submitted to the first round of this call, with the success rate at around 28%. Grants are being awarded to researchers based in 12 EU and associated countries in the European Research Area. Successful research projects include developing therapies for children with congenital heart defects; monitoring water quality in real time; improving the nutritional qualities of potatoes; and making the best informed choices when buying a new house.

This call’s overall budget is €15m, of which half is earmarked for supporting projects in the first round of the competition. The second and final round of the ERC Proof of Concept call 2014 is currently open to ERC grant holders and the deadline for applications is 1 October. For 2015, the ERC Scientific Council has decided to increase the Proof of Concept call’s overall budget to up to €20m.