The European Research Council (ERC) has announced it is increasing its funding offer for scientists looking to relocate to Europe. The move comes as countries around the world look to capitalise on the chaos caused by the shake-up of research in the US by the Trump administration.
In addition to its standard grant schemes, the ERC offers ‘start-up’ funding to support new grantees as they make the move to Europe, set up a laboratory or research team and purchase necessary equipment.
However, the ERC has now formally agreed that this funding will now be doubled, from up to €1 million (£843,000) to up to €2 million. This means that the ERC starting grant can now be worth up to €3.5 million, an ERC consolidator grant up to €4 million and an ERC advanced grant up to €4.5 million for researchers relocating to Europe.
President of the ERC, Maria Leptin, said the ERC scientific council had raised the funding to try to help researchers looking to leave the US, but added that the funding was open to anyone worldwide looking to make the move.
‘Our goals remain unchanged, however,’ she said. ‘The ERC has, from the outset, offered attractive opportunities for top scientists, regardless of nationality, to carry out research in Europe. This goes hand in hand with the European tradition of openness and scientific freedom, and the support for independent researchers following their scientific curiosity.’
The scientific council is introducing the increased funding in the upcoming competition for ERC advanced grants that opens on 22 May and intends to maintain this amount for all grant competitions in 2026 and 2027.
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