ERC awards €838 million to 319 researchers across Europe

The European Research Council has announced the latest results of its Advanced Grant competition, awarding €838 million to 319 senior researchers working across Europe and associated countries

The funding is part of the EU’s research framework program Horizon Europe and is designed to support ambitious, curiosity-driven projects with the potential for major scientific breakthroughs.

The Advanced Grants target established researchers who are ready to explore high-risk, high-reward ideas, often pushing into entirely new scientific territory.

Strong competition and wide European reach

This year’s call attracted a lot of interest, with 3,329 proposals submitted altogether, which is an increase of 31% compared with the previous round. Only 9.6% of applications were successful, underlining the scheme’s highly competitive nature.

Successful projects will be hosted in 24 EU Member States and associated countries. The United Kingdom leads with 62 awards, followed by Germany with 46, Switzerland with 32, Spain with 29, and France with 26.

In total, 33 researchers from 33 nationalities were selected, highlighting the program’s international character and the continued role of Europe as a major hub of scientific excellence.

Global talent and the “Choose Europe” initiative

A feature of this year’s results is the growing number of researchers applying from outside Europe. A total of 164 applicants from countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia competed for funding, compared with just 44 the previous year.

Thirteen of the successful grantees are currently based outside Europe, including nine from the United States, two from Australia and two from Canada. Seven of these researchers are using additional funding from the “Choose Europe” initiative to relocate and establish new laboratories and research teams across Europe.

The funded projects cover a wide range of disciplines, from medical and life sciences to mathematics and physics. Examples include research into vulnerability to drug addiction, efforts to extend women’s fertility and improve health outcomes, and studies into the neurological basis of stuttering.

Other projects will focus on developing advanced mathematical and computational tools to manage complex systems such as transport networks and the internet. In physics and materials science, researchers will explore fundamental questions involving magnets, quantum materials and other complex systems.

Collectively, the projects are expected to generate more than 3,000 research jobs across Europe, strengthening laboratory teams and supporting early-career scientists.

The next Advanced Grants competition under the ERC program is already open, with applications invited until 27 August 2026.