EU backs early-career researchers with €485m

The European Research Council has selected 328 first class scientists to receive its prestigious Starting Grants, worth up to €2m. Total funding worth €485m contributes to supporting a new generation of top scientists in Europe developing so-called ‘blue sky research’.

The projects selected cover a range of topics, including wearable electronic textiles powered by body heat; the origins of human rationality, combatting cancer related inflammation, and optimising user interface design.

Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, commented: “To create tomorrow’s innovation and growth, cutting-edge research is a must. With its Starting Grants, the ERC nurtures the next generation of excellent scientists allowing them to follow their scientific curiosity and take risks. To be at the forefront, Europe needs this gutsy mindset, and to invest in young talent.”

This year, grants are awarded to researchers of 38 nationalities, hosted in 180 different institutions throughout Europe. In terms of host institutions, Germany was awarded 70 grants, followed by the UK with 55 grants; France received 43 and the Netherlands, 34. One project at CERN in Switzerland has also been funded.

Around 40 of the winning researchers are non-European and there are also 18 researchers coming to Europe to carry out their ERC-funded projects, including 13 returning Europeans; scientists are moving to Europe from Australia and North America to undertake their projects. The overall average age of selected researchers is about 35 years.