Frontier Research: Driving Transformation through Curiosity and Exploration – President Maria Leptin’s keynote speech at the event ‘Boosting Frontier research’ at Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Arts in Nicosia, Cyprus
The European Research Council (ERC) was established to support groundbreaking research across all scientific fields, pushing beyond what we know. Unlike applied research, which targets immediate challenges, frontier research explores fundamental questions with no guaranteed path to immediate application. Yet, over time, these explorations yield transformative impacts.
Consider the development of Artificial Intelligence, which many now believe is on the verge of transforming our economies. The recent achievements of certain US tech companies in this field are impressive, but we should remember that artificial intelligence was founded as an academic discipline in 1956. So unlike some may think, AI was not invented with Chat GPT. Since the 1950s the field has been through multiple cycles of optimism, followed by periods of disappointment and loss of funding, known as AI winters. It is only the dedication and passion of frontier researchers that kept the field alive through these cycles. It was these researchers, predominantly working in public sector universities and laboratories, which developed many of the ideas and techniques which are now being utilised on such a massive scale by the big tech companies.
The ERC has supported projects that sparked breakthroughs in fields as diverse as quantum communication and new cancer treatments. More than 44% of the research projects funded by the ERC generate articles subsequently cited in patent applications filed by firms and institutions in various parts of the world.
Around 50% of these citations come from patents assigned to firms, among which are some of the largest corporations located all over the world. These citations are predominantly in fields closer to the science frontier and industries with greater science-based R&D orientation: Biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, computer technology, organic fine chemistry, measurement, and semiconductors. Around 11% of ERC projects generated scientific outcomes cited in patented technologies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. These results show how frontier research can open new markets and industries. This type of research is foundational, and Europe’s future competitiveness relies on it.
Europe’s Critical Challenge and the Role of the ERC
Europe is at a crossroads. The recent Draghi report on European competitiveness underscores the urgency: we are losing ground in advanced technologies while remaining anchored in industries of the past. To address this, the report calls for significantly increasing support for frontier research, especially through the ERC, which has earned a reputation for excellence, rigorous standards, and impartiality.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has highlighted research and innovation as key to achieving a clean, digital economy. She has proposed expanding the ERC and the European Innovation Council, and she wants to place science and technology at the heart of Europe’s economy. This support, combined with the Draghi report’s recommendations, reflects a growing recognition that Europe’s future success depends on strategic investment in cutting-edge research.
However, we also face the reality that funding levels currently fall short of the requirements. To bridge this gap, the ERC and the broader scientific community have advocated for a doubling of the EU research budget in the next framework programme. It’s essential that we compete with global leaders in research spending to ensure Europe remains a source of world-leading science and technology.
Cyprus’s Opportunity and the Path to a Competitive Research Ecosystem
Cyprus has significantly increased its national expenditures in R&D over the last decade, jumping from €83 million in 2009 to more than €212 million in 2022 according to Eurostat data. I see that you have also made use of European funds to support Cyprus’ economy, industry and innovation.
This increase in investment is reflected in a flourishing research system with strengths in international scientific collaboration, in scientific publications among the top 10% most cited, and in attracting foreign doctoral students. Cyprus is also classified as a “strong innovator” by the latest European Innovation Scoreboard. The ICT sector in particular contributes significantly to R&D activities and acts as an enabler of innovation adoption across industries.
However, financing R&D remains a significant challenge in Cyprus as the country is well behind the EU average in 2024 in R&D expenditures in the public sector (39% of the EU average in 2024), and private sector (19% of the EU average in 2024).
While the ERC’s evaluation process is designed to be unbiased, we recognize the concern that Cyprus does not receive as many ERC grants as some other countries. Yet, the data shows that success in ERC funding is closely tied to a country’s investment in research and innovation infrastructure. In this respect researchers based in Cyprus receive a high number of grants compared to Cyprus’s expenditure on R&D. In fact, our data shows that Cyprus comes in eleventh place in terms of ERC main grants per million inhabitants among the EU countries.
Overall then Cyprus’s trajectory is promising. But building a competitive research ecosystem requires sustained commitment across government and society. Establishing a strong science base cannot rest on the actions of one minister, or even one ministry; it requires long-term, system-wide effort.
Creating Conditions for Researchers to Thrive
The most valuable assets in any research ecosystem are the researchers. Creating the right environment for researchers to thrive means providing stability, career prospects, and freedom. The European Commission’s MORE Study has shown that researchers prioritize environments that support their work with adequate funding, autonomy, and collaborative opportunities over purely financial incentives.
For young researchers, mobility is especially critical. The opportunity to work in diverse research environments early in their careers lays the foundation for impactful scientific contributions. Unfortunately, too many early-career researchers face unstable job markets, moving from one short-term contract to another. This instability not only hampers scientific progress but also exacerbates gender inequalities, as women are more often affected by the challenges of balancing career progression with personal commitments.
If Europe is serious about competing globally, it must ensure sustainable career paths for its researchers, balancing competitive and institutional funding and considering researchers as individuals with varied professional and personal needs.
Building Competitive Capacity: Absorbing Knowledge from Abroad
The GDP per capita in Cyprus exhibits strong growth with a higher average annual GDP growth rate of 3.8% compared to the EU’s 1.9%. Emerging economies, like Cyprus, can harness innovations developed elsewhere, a process known as “catch-up growth.” But to capitalize fully on these advancements, Cyprus needs a skilled research community capable of understanding and integrating new technologies. Cyprus’s own research system and skilled community are vital in ensuring that cutting-edge developments are accessible and beneficial domestically.
Supporting Innovation at Home and Leveraging European Success
Investment in local research has value beyond immediate results. While not all research will win an ERC grant, building national capacity creates a knowledge base, trains skilled graduates, and nurtures a community adept at addressing complex problems. National investments in R&D also build absorptive capacity, enabling countries to benefit from the breakthroughs of others while enhancing their own innovation culture.
A dynamic European research landscape also strengthens all Member States. The EU’s collective research efforts are essential for addressing shared challenges and positioning Europe as a global leader. Cyprus and other Member States benefit from a strong EU research programme, not only through direct funding but by operating in a thriving and innovative market. If you think of the critical technologies of tomorrow, will Cyprus be best placed to access and use them if they are developed within the EU’s Single Market or outside of it?
Conclusion: Securing a Competitive Future for Europe
To secure Europe’s place on the world stage, we must prioritize long-term research investment. As Mario Draghi aptly warns, without significant productivity gains, Europe faces difficult choices. We cannot lead in new technologies, champion climate responsibility, and remain independent on the world stage without aligning our goals with substantial investments in scientific excellence.
The ERC stands ready to support Europe’s brightest minds in pushing the boundaries of knowledge, but this is only possible if we prioritize and expand our funding for basic research. For Cyprus and other countries striving to lead, now is the time to lay the groundwork for a high-potential research system. This requires not only investment but also an environment that fosters academic culture, career stability, and creative freedom. We would of course love to see this promoted as a high priority for the EU during Cyprus’s upcoming presidency!
The case of AI underscores the non-linear, often unpredictable nature of scientific progress as well as the profound societal and economic impact that can arise from patient investment in science.
But it also shows how we cannot stand still. The cutting edge of science and technology is a moving target and the pace of innovation is accelerating, especially with the emergence of China as a major player. It is therefore vital that both at EU and national levels we provide support for research and innovation in a balanced way. We need to think very hard about making sure we have the right balance between funding short-term economic growth and long-term economic development.
In closing, I urge us all to consider the long view. Europe cannot afford to be a follower in the global knowledge economy. If we lead in research, we lead in shaping our own future. Our ambitions are bold, our talent is strong, and with the right support, our potential is limitless. Let us seize this moment to build a Europe where science, innovation, and knowledge form the foundation of a prosperous and independent future.
Source: European Research Council | News & Events | News (https://shorturl.at/6xbLW)