EUR 657m awards for researchers across Europe
Research - Photo © luchshen - Fotolia
(BRUSSELS) - The European Research Council announced Tuesday the winners of its latest round of 'Consolidator Grants', aimed at supporting mid-career researchers for pioneering research across all scientific disciplines.
"321 scientists and scholars will receive some €657 million to conduct pioneering research," said research Commissioner Mariya Gabriel: "Their discoveries lay the groundwork for innovation and, ultimately, for growth and economic competitiveness in Europe."
The grants will be invested in scientific projects spanning all disciplines of research from engineering to life sciences to humanities. For example, a neurologist in Denmark will look for a personalised treatment for chronic pain; a researcher in France will explore fibrous materials as green alternative to fossil-based plastics; and a bioarcheologist in Lithuania will study what influenced the adoption and abandonment of crops over time, to improve present-day food security, biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change.
The laureates of this grant competition proposed to carry out their projects at universities and research centres in 18 EU Member States, plus other countries associated with Horizon Europe. Among the EU countries the highest numbers of grants will be located in Germany (62 projects), France (41) and Spain (24).
There are nationals of 37 countries among the winners of this call, notably Germans (52 researchers), Italians (32), French (31) and British (31). The call attracted 2,222 applicants, while the proposals were reviewed by panels of renowned researchers from around the world. Under the EU's Horizon Europe programme, the grants will create around 1,950 jobs for postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, and other staff at the host institutions.
The statistics and final list of successful candidates are provisional. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom allows for associating the UK to the current EU research and innovation funding programme, Horizon Europe, subject to the adoption of a Protocol.