European Research Council grants are changing Europe’s universities

When the rectors of European universities meet up these days the first thing they do is compare how many European Research Council (ERC) grant holders are based in their institutions. This is one sign of how the ERC as the first pan European funding body for basic research is transforming R&D, according to Helga Nowotny, President of the ERC. “For the first time European universities are starting to compete; before they couldn’t care less, they were stuck in their own countries,” Nowotny told the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Washington.

Nor is the impact limited to universities, there are also changes to national research systems, and consequences for the researchers themselves. By setting up a comprehensive peer review system and making excellence the only criterion in awarding grants, the ERC is raising standards for evaluating grant applications throughout the EU. “There are excellent systems already, in the UK, Germany and France, but also other [countries]have some way to go, and we see here we [the ERC] are setting new standards,” Nowotny said, noting newer EU members “are keen to revamp their systems.”

Nowotny also presented an analysis of which countries have attracted the most ERC grants, showing the UK in the lead, with 355 to date. However, looking at the nationality of the grant holders, Germany is number one. “The fact that so many young [German] scientists work outside Germany sends a message to policy makers to look at what is less attractive, in German universities in particular.”

The standing of ERC grants is highlighted by the fact that the European universities that are higher up the world rankings – led by Cambridge and Oxford – have attracted the most ERC grant holders.

Meanwhile, ERC grants are changing the careers and lives of researchers. “The high reputation of ERC grants opens doors, especially for younger researchers,” Nowotny said. People holding ERC Starting Grants say they have to work harder as a result of getting the award, but they get more recognition and increased status.

In summary, said Nowotny, the ERC is “an unfinished success story,” adding “We are not at the end of our ambitions: looking ahead from 2013 onwards we would like to a substantial increase in the budget. We are looking for at least a doubling.”