Three ‘proof of concept’ grants awarded to Utrecht University

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a total of 182 proof-of-concept grants to researchers from 21 countries. The Netherlands ranks second with 27 grants. Only Germany secured more funding, with 31 grants.

The recipients had previously received a research grant from the ERC and may now use the funding to explore ‘the commercial or societal potential’ of their research. Just over half (54 per cent) work in the natural sciences and engineering, 37 per cent focus on the life sciences and 8 per cent on the social sciences and humanities.

Most of the Dutch grants go to Delft University of Technology (five), followed by Eindhoven University of Technology and Utrecht University, with three awards each. The grants go to the projects of Albert Heck, Joost Snijder and Ina Vollmer, all three from the Faculty of Science.

Joost Snijder. Photo: UU

Heck is conducting research into a new method for detecting potent human antibodies. Snijder is developing a new method to stably mimic a key component of the dengue virus. Developing an effective vaccine against the virus has so far proved difficult. Vollmer is working on a new method to chemically recycle plastic waste into high-quality raw materials for new plastics.

Ina Vollmer. Photo: UU

Harvesting energy with concrete
A researcher at Delft University of Technology is attempting to create an alternative energy source: a special type of concrete that can harvest energy from waves crashing against the coast. In Utrecht, a scientist is working on new methods of chemical recycling.

This was the first of two rounds in 2026. A total of 554 proposals were submitted. Despite the rise in the number of applications, the success rate has barely fallen. This is thanks to the growing budget: the ERC is making 60 million available for the two rounds this year. In 2025, this figure was 45 million euros; in 2024, it was nearly 37 million.