Seven ERC grants for Utrecht-based research institutions

In this round, ERC is distributing a total of 678 million euros to experienced scientists in 25 EU countries and 20 other countries that contribute to the Horizon Europe research programme.

There were 2,313 applications this year, of which 328 (14.2 percent) received a grant in the end. Germany is by far the most successful country, with 67 grants. With 37 grants, the Netherlands is doing almost as well as France and the United Kingdom, which received 38 grants each.

With five grants, Utrecht University is the most successful of the Dutch institutions that applied. In addition, UMC Utrecht and the Princess Maxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology were awarded one grant each. The seven grants will go to Jesper Nederlof, Peter Ngene and Saskia Suijkerbuik from the Faculty of Science; Ylona van Dinther and Simon Scheider from Geosciences; Aniek Janssen from UMC Utrecht; and Jarno Drost from the Princess Maxima Centre. According to UU's website, their research topics range from algorithms in computer science to the conduction of substances, how healthy cells are displaced by tumour cells, and determining earthquake locations.

The consolidator grants allow the winners to form a research team of their own. ERC estimates that these grants will help pay around 2,750 postdocs, PhD candidates and other employees.

Waste of talent
ERC had 51 million euros more to distribute this year than in 2023. Council President Maria Leptin regrets that so many excellent researchers had to be turned down nevertheless. “This waste of talent can only be prevented if Europe invests more in fundamental research.”

As things stand now, the Horizon programme will have to hand over 2.1 billion euros in budget over the next three years, although the final word has not yet been said.