Over €20 million to turn frontier science into practical solutions

The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the first group of researchers to be awarded ERC Proof of Concept Grants in 2025. In this initial round of the 2025 competition, 150 projects will receive €22.5 million in funding. Each grant is worth €150,000 and is designed to help ERC grantees to bridge the gap between …

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Changes to the 2026 and 2027 Work Programmes

With the launch of the competitions for grants under ERC Work Programme 2026 in July of this year, several changes to the submission of applications and the evaluation of proposals will apply. The main novelties for 2026, as well as the longer-term goal to extend the eligibility of applicants for Starting and Consolidator Grants from …

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Consolidator Grants: ERC awards €678m in grants to back excellent research across Europe

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded its 2024 Consolidator Grants to 328 researchers across Europe. These grants, totalling €678 million, aim to support outstanding scientists and scholars as they establish their independent research teams and develop their most promising scientific ideas. The funding is provided through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. Projects selected for …

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Supporting Excellence: The Role of Frontier Research in a Dynamic Europe

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 …

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Report: ERC-funded researchers lead rapid use of CRISPR/Cas gene-editing

Researchers funded by European Research Council (ERC) have rapidly adopted and expanded the use of CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology across diverse scientific fields. Recognised with the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR/Cas has become one of the most significant breakthroughs in genetic research, just nine years after its discovery. …

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Applications for ERC Synergy Grants 2025: Facts and Figures

The ERC Synergy Grants 2025 call closed for applications on 6 November 2024. These are the preliminary data on the submitted proposals: The ERC received 712 proposals, marking a 30% increase compared to last year’s call when 548 applications were submitted, and an even more significant 80% rise compared to the 2023 call when 395 proposals were received. 754 or 30% …

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ERC Synergy Grants for 57 teams tackling major scientific challenges

Fifty-seven research groups will receive a total of €571 million to address some of the most complex scientific problems, covering a wide range of disciplines. The ERC Synergy Grants foster collaboration between outstanding researchers, enabling them to combine their expertise, knowledge and resources to push the boundaries of scientific discovery. This funding is part of …

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