More US researchers secure ERC grants as success rate falls

The number of early career researchers based outside Europe who have won European Research Council (ERC) grants has almost doubled in a year, with nearly all the overseas academics coming from the US.  

A total of 21 non-European researchers were awarded ERC Starting Grants in the latest round, up from 11 last year, with 20 of this year’s winners currently based in the US and one in Canada. The prestigious grants offer individual awards of up to €1.5 million (£1.3 million) over five years for early career researchers. 

Academics from the US and Canada accounted for about 5 per cent of all successful applicants compared with 2.3 per cent of overseas researchers last year. The sharp rise comes as the European Commission has stepped up efforts to attract overseas researchers. Policymakers are looking to make Europe a more appealing destination for international researchers as concerns grow over academic freedom and cuts to federal research in the US.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, European commissioner for startups, research and innovation, said she was “particularly pleased” that 21 researchers currently based in the US and Canada planned to relocate to Europe.

“Their decision reflects Europe’s growing appeal for frontier research and is an encouraging sign that the EU’s Choose Europe initiative is helping to attract the next generation of scientific talent,” she added. 

A total of €705 million was awarded to 421 early career researchers in this year’s competition. The ERC said it received a record 4,807 proposals this year, a 22 per cent jump compared with the previous round. The success rate was 8.8 per cent.

Last year, 478 early career researchers received a grant, with €761 million distributed and a success rate of 12.2 per cent.

German universities and research institutions are set to host 89 winners, making it the biggest destination for ERC-funded researchers, followed by the UK, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. 

Among the winners are 84 Germans, 50 Italians, 30 French and 24 Spanish, as well as researchers of 48 other nationalities, the ERC said. 

ERC president Maria Leptin said the grants would give early career researchers the “independence and support” they needed to push scientific boundaries.

“This is the best investment we can make to further strengthen our research base and Europe’s future,” she added. 

seher.asaf@timeshighereducation.com