European Research Council awards € 630 million to mid-career scientists

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded 329 top researchers, of whom 25 are from Dutch universities and research centres, with a Consolidator Grant, with a total funding of € 630 million. This funding will enable the scientists to consolidate their research teams and to develop their most innovative ideas. The funding, of up to € 2 million per grant, is provided for a maximum period of five years.

Projects selected include 'How drug-resistant bacteria can be made sensitive to antibiotics again', 'Is your home really such a safe investment' and 'Can there be a more efficient way to study the most abundant element on Earth – oxygen'. These are just some examples of the challenges at the frontiers of knowledge that the new grantees of the European Research Council (ERC) are going to take on.

Grants are awarded to researchers of 39 different nationalities, hosted in institutions located in 22 different countries throughout Europe. In terms of geographical location, the UK (60 grants), Germany (56) and France (38) and the Netherlands (25) are in the lead. 

The research projects proposed by the new grantees cover a wide range of topics in physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, as well as social sciences and humanities. Of the 329 grantees, 151 are in the domain Physical Sciences and Engineering, 101 in Life Sciences and 77 in the domain Social Sciences and Humanities. 

The ERC has evaluated 2,538 research proposals this time, out of which 13% will be funded. 32% of the grants were awarded to female applicants.