ERC funds 3,000th scientist since 2007
The European Research Council (ERC) has announced funding for its 3,000th scientist in six years, allowing pioneering brain research to take place.
The milestone grant of €1.8m will be given to Professor Christian Keysers who will use the funding towards investigating empathy within neurons.
Speaking about the landmark, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, said: “The ERC is a brand of excellence, recognised both in Europe and further afield. The European Commission has proposed a strong Horizon 2020 programme for 2014-2020, of which the ERC will be a vital part. We would like to see a significant increase in the ERC budget to enable more researchers to pursue ideas that often spark discoveries and tackle major challenges for our society.”
Geoghegan-Quinn added that it was important to invest in research and innovation in order to assist member states coming out of economic difficulty.
The ERC held a special ceremony at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in Amsterdam to mark the special occasion. Keysers said receiving the funding was a “dream come true” and that he was now able to choose a top team to help him undertake the five-year study.
The group leader of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience added: “The ERC has become the patron for the brightest scientists pursuing curiosity-driven research and the backbone for a Europe of Ideas. It epitomises a Europe of intellectual innovation and excellence that makes me proud to be European.”
The European Commission established the ERC in 2007 to fund the ‘Ideas programme’ in the EU’s Seventh Research Framework Programme.
