The experience of Efrén Fernández Securing funding from the European Research Council (ERC) is, for many researchers, a turning point. Not only because of the funding itself, but because of what it represents: scientific independence, the ability to develop one’s own research line, and international recognition. But getting there is rarely a straightforward process. The…
The European Research Council (ERC) is not just a funding programme. Since 2007, it has become Europe’s most prestigious mark of scientific excellence. With an annual budget exceeding €2 billion under Horizon Europe (more than €16 billion for the period 2021–2027), the ERC funds frontier research with no thematic restrictions and under a single criterion:…
Securing funding from the European Research Council (ERC) is rarely the result of a single attempt. In most cases, it is the outcome of a journey marked by resilience, perseverance and strategic decision-making. Researcher Sara Abalde-Cela, specialising in nanotechnology and biotechnology, and currently Principal Investigator in the Medical Devices group at the International Iberian Nanotechnology…
The European research landscape is undergoing a historic shift with the launch of the ERC Plus Grants, a new funding instrument from the European Research Council designed to change the rules of the game for those aiming to lead truly transformative scientific projects. The announcement comes directly from Brussels and was presented by the ERC…
The ERC-2026-CoG call, opened on 25 September 2025 and closing on 13 January 2026, once again brings to the forefront one of the most competitive and prestigious funding schemes in the European research landscape. The ERC Consolidator Grants, promoted by the European Research Council (ERC), support cutting-edge scientific projects led by mid-career researchers capable of…
Pablo Ares, a researcher at the Department of Condensed Matter Physics and the Condensed Matter Physics Research Center (IFIMAC) at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), dedicates his work to the study of two-dimensional materials and their applications. He explores how these structures behave at the nanometric scale, a field that combines physics, engineering, and…
The European Research Council (ERC) has officially launched its 2026 Work Programme—an ambitious roadmap that mobilizes over €2.6 billion to support the most cutting-edge science across Europe. This new round of calls not only brings updated timelines and budgets, but also introduces key changes in evaluation processes, eligibility criteria, and proposal structure. It reflects a…
What if your next big idea could change the rules of the game in your field of research? That is precisely what the European Research Council (ERC) is looking for: to support those who dare to imagine beyond the established and propose science without limits. With the mission to encourage excellent science in Europe, the…
The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded its Consolidator Grants 2024 to 328 researchers across Europe. These grants, totalling €678 million, aim to support scientists in setting up their independent research teams and developing their most promising scientific ideas. Projects selected for funding Grants will support frontier research through projects in any area of knowledge,…