The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the winners of its latest Advanced Grants competition, awarding €721 million to 281 leading researchers across Europe. As part of the Horizon Europe programme, this prestigious funding allows senior researchers to pursue ambitious projects that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs.

The work of the awarded researchers will cover a wide range of subjects: from developing a preventive vaccine for hereditary breast cancer and investigating how diet and exercise affect brain cells related to ageing, to creating AI digital twins that mirror and enhance human thought and social skills, and exploring the hidden oceans on Jupiter's and Saturn's moons.

Startups, Research, and Innovation Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva said: "These ERC grants are our commitment to making Europe the world's hub for excellent research. By supporting projects that have the potential to redefine whole fields, we are not just investing in science but in the future prosperity and resilience of our continent. In the next competition rounds, scientists moving to Europe will receive even greater support in setting up their labs and research teams here. This is part of our ‘Choose Europe for Science' initiative, designed to attract and retain the world's top scientists."

The winning researchers will run their scientific projects at universities and research centres in 23 EU member states and associated countries, notably in the UK (56 grants), Germany (35), Italy (25), the Netherlands (24), and France (23).

More information can be found in a press release available online.

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