European Research Council Awards €839 Million to 234 Top Researchers in 2024—Here’s Who Got Grants and Why It Matters

Brussels, 2024 — The European Research Council (ERC) has announced its latest round of Advanced Grants, awarding nearly €839 million to 234 leading researchers across Europe. These grants—among the most prestigious in global science—fund high-risk, groundbreaking projects in fields from quantum physics to neuroscience, with individual awards ranging from €1.5 million to €2.5 million. The ERC, part of the EU’s Horizon Europe program, emphasizes “excellence-driven research” without thematic restrictions, allowing scientists to pursue ambitious, long-term questions.

The 2024 call attracted 1,970 proposals, with a success rate of just 12%. Among the recipients are researchers exploring supernovae explosions, brain-machine interfaces, and new materials for clean energy—projects that could redefine entire scientific disciplines. The grants, typically spanning five years, reflect the ERC’s mission to support “established, exceptional researchers” who have already demonstrated outstanding achievements.

With €839 million allocated—up from €800 million in 2023—the funding underscores Europe’s commitment to maintaining its position as a global leader in scientific innovation. But the scale of the awards also raises questions about how these investments will compete with rising research funding from the U.S. and China, and whether the ERC’s open-ended approach risks overlooking applied or industry-relevant science.

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Who Won the Advanced Grants—and What Will the Money Fund?

The 2024 cohort includes researchers from 22 countries, with Germany, France, and the UK hosting the highest number of grantees. However, the grants are not limited to Europe: 12% of recipients are based outside the EU, reflecting the ERC’s global reach.

Key recipients and projects:

• Astrophysics: A Lancaster University researcher will receive €2.5 million to study the “cosmic origins of supernovae,” aiming to uncover how massive stars die and seed the universe with heavy elements.
• Neuroscience: Two Trinity College Dublin researchers secured grants totaling €3.8 million to develop brain-machine interfaces, potentially revolutionizing treatments for paralysis and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Medicine: A Radcliffe Department of Medicine professor was awarded €2 million to investigate how immune cells respond to cancer therapies, with implications for personalized immunotherapy.
• Materials Science: A Dutch researcher will explore “topological quantum materials,” which could enable ultra-fast, energy-efficient electronics.

Unlike ERC Starting or Consolidator Grants, which target early-career researchers, Advanced Grants are reserved for scientists with a “track record of significant research achievements.” The ERC’s selection panel—comprising independent experts—evaluates proposals based on scientific excellence, innovation, and feasibility.

Distribution by field (2024):

Source: ERC Advanced Grants 2024 press release, internal ERC funding database

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Why These Grants Matter: Europe’s Bet on Blue-Sky Research

The ERC Advanced Grants are often described as the “Nobel Prize of European research funding.” Unlike targeted programs—such as those funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe pillars—the ERC operates on a “bottom-up” model, letting researchers propose any idea, regardless of immediate commercial or policy relevance.

This approach has both advocates and critics. Supporters argue that it fosters disruptive innovation, as seen in past ERC-funded breakthroughs, including:

• A 2012 Advanced Grant that led to the discovery of a new class of superconductors (awarded to a French physicist).
• A 2018 project mapping the human brain’s neural networks, now used in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s.
• A 2020 grant for quantum computing algorithms that are now integrated into IBM’s research roadmap.

Critics, however, point to growing competition from other funders. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and China’s National Natural Science Foundation (NNSF) have increased funding for high-risk research, while private sector investments—such as those from Google DeepMind or Breakthrough Prize Foundation—are also targeting cutting-edge science. In 2023, the NSF’s most generous grants exceeded €3 million per award, outpacing the ERC’s maximum of €2.5 million.

Comparison: ERC vs. U.S. Funding for High-Risk Research

Sources: ERC 2024 report; NSF 2023 budget breakdown; NNSF 2023 funding guidelines

Another challenge is geographic imbalance. While the UK and Germany dominate ERC grants, countries like Portugal and Ireland have seen slower growth in Advanced Grant recipients. The ERC has pledged to improve outreach in “less research-intensive” regions, but progress remains uneven.

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How the Selection Process Works—and Why Only 12% Succeed

The ERC’s Advanced Grants are awarded through a rigorous, multi-stage process:

1. Eligibility Check: Researchers must have a “track record of significant research achievements” and be affiliated with an EU institution (or associated country). No thematic restrictions apply.
2. Peer Review: Proposals are evaluated by international panels of experts, who assess scientific excellence, originality, and feasibility. Reviewers are chosen for their independence and lack of conflict of interest.
3. Interviews (for shortlisted candidates):**

A subset of applicants presents their work to the ERC Scientific Council, which makes the final funding decisions.

4. Funding Allocation: Grants are awarded for up to five years, with no restrictions on how the money is spent (e.g., salaries, equipment, collaborations).

In 2024, the ERC received 1,970 proposals, down from 2,140 in 2023—a trend some attribute to increased competition and the difficulty of securing funding elsewhere. The success rate of 12% is roughly in line with previous years, though it varies by discipline: physical sciences and engineering tend to have higher success rates than social sciences.

Why do so many proposals fail? According to ERC evaluation reports, common reasons include:

• Lack of clarity: Proposals that fail to articulate a clear research question or methodology.
• Overambition: Projects that are too broad or lack a feasible timeline.
• Weak track record: While not explicitly stated, reviewers often scrutinize past publications and citations.
• Poor alignment with ERC values: The council prioritizes “transformative” research over incremental advances.

Source: ERC Evaluation Report 2023; interviews with past applicants

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What Happens Next? Tracking the Impact of ERC-Funded Research

The €839 million in Advanced Grants will fund projects that could take years—or even decades—to yield tangible results. However, past ERC investments provide a roadmap for their potential impact:

• 2010s Breakthroughs: ERC-funded research in the 2010s led to advances in CRISPR gene editing, graphene-based materials, and early-stage quantum computing. Some of these discoveries later attracted private investment or policy attention.
• Industry Spin-offs: A 2019 ERC grant for battery research resulted in a spin-off company now supplying materials to Tesla and BMW. The ERC does not require commercialization, but some projects indirectly benefit industry.
• Policy Influence: Findings from ERC-funded climate science have been cited in EU Green Deal reports, shaping regulatory proposals.

Yet, measuring the direct economic return of ERC grants remains difficult. A 2022 study by the European Commission estimated that each euro invested in ERC funding generates €8–12 in economic impact over time—but these figures include indirect benefits like job creation and technology transfer.

Key questions for 2025 and beyond:

• Will the ERC’s funding keep pace with U.S. and Chinese investments in high-risk research?
• How will the next Horizon Europe framework (2028–2034) adjust ERC priorities to address global challenges like AI and climate change?
• Can the ERC better support researchers in non-traditional fields (e.g., arts, humanities) without diluting scientific rigor?

The ERC’s next Advanced Grants call is expected in late 2025, with funding decisions announced in early 2026. Applicants are already preparing proposals, knowing that the bar for excellence will remain as high as ever.

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Common Questions About ERC Advanced Grants—Answered

Q: How do ERC Advanced Grants differ from Starting or Consolidator Grants?

A: Advanced Grants target established researchers (typically 10+ years post-PhD) with a proven track record, while Starting Grants support early-career scientists (2–7 years post-PhD) and Consolidator Grants fund mid-career researchers (7–12 years post-PhD). Advanced Grants have no upper age limit and focus on “high-risk, high-reward” projects.

Q: Can non-EU researchers apply for ERC Advanced Grants?

A: Yes, but they must be affiliated with an EU institution or an associated country (e.g., Switzerland, Norway). In 2024, 12% of grantees were based outside the EU, including researchers in Israel, Canada, and Japan.

Q: What’s the average grant size for Advanced Grants?

A: The average award in 2024 was €3.6 million, though individual grants range from €1.5 million to €2.5 million. The ERC adjusts funding based on the project’s scope and costs (e.g., lab equipment, international collaborations).

Q: How does the ERC decide between competing proposals?

A: The selection is based on scientific excellence, originality, and feasibility, evaluated by independent international panels. Unlike some funders, the ERC does not prioritize applied research or economic impact—only the potential to advance knowledge.

Q: Are there any restrictions on how ERC funds can be used?

A: No, the ERC provides full flexibility in how grants are spent, including salaries, equipment, travel, and collaborations. However, recipients must comply with EU research integrity rules and provide regular progress reports.

Q: What’s the most successful discipline for ERC Advanced Grants?

A: Physical sciences and engineering consistently receive the highest number of grants and funding. In 2024, these fields accounted for 38% of awards, followed by life sciences (32%) and social sciences (14%).

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For further reading, see our related explainer on how Horizon Europe funding compares to national research grants and an analysis of why Europe’s research ecosystem is struggling to retain top talent.