Once again, the Netherlands gets many European starting grants

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded 761 million euros in starting grants. Of the 3,928 research applications, 478 (12.2 per cent) were approved.

Most grants went to Germany (99) and the United Kingdom (60). The Netherlands came in third with 44 grants. Larger countries, such as France (41), Italy (30), and Spain (28), received fewer grants.

In the Netherlands, most grants were awarded to researchers from the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Delft University of Technology, and the University of Groningen. Of these, 16 are Dutch nationals and 28 are international, according to the ERC.

Another nine Dutch winners are affiliated with foreign knowledge institutions. With a total of 25 grant winners, the Dutch rank sixth in the “nationality list”, behind the Germans (87 grants), Italians (55), French (33), British and Spanish (32).

Switzerland
Thirty-five grants will go to Switzerland. This country was not allowed to participate in the European research programme for several years after negotiations with the EU on free trade and migration broke down. However, it is expected that the Swiss will rejoin this year. If this does not happen in time, scientists based in Switzerland will only receive a grant if they transfer to a host institution in an EU Member State or an associated country. The distribution of grants is therefore still subject to change.

The starting grants are intended for PhD scientists at the beginning of their scientific careers. The grant enables them to set up their own team and spend five years conducting research. The ERC expects that the grants will enable more than 3,000 people to start work.