ERC calls for stronger action to close Europe’s research performance gap
Countries that belong to the widening group represent roughly a quarter of the EU population and are characterised by strong educational traditions and, in many cases, rapid economic growth. Yet, researchers based in these countries currently secure only around one-twentieth of ERC grants. Their success rates in ERC competitions typically range from 1 to 7 percent, well below the ERC average of about 11 percent.
Europe cannot afford a research landscape divided into two tiers. If these gaps persist, they will weaken Europe’s overall scientific strength. At the same time, any measures to address them must fully preserve the ERC’s core principle: projects are selected solely on the basis of scientific excellence. This principle underpins the ERC’s international reputation and must remain unchanged.
said Leszek Kaczmarek, Chair of the ERC Working Group on Widening European Participation and Member of the ERC Scientific Council.
According to the white paper, this uneven distribution of grants reflects deeper structural barriers that limit the ability of researchers to compete successfully for highly selective frontier research funding. These include less favourable academic environments, lower national investment in research and development, limited access to international scientific networks, and weaker support systems for preparing competitive grant proposals. Language, cultural and psychological barriers can also discourage researchers from applying.
At the same time, the report highlights signs of improvement. Over the past decade, several widening countries have strengthened national research systems and introduced programmes designed to help researchers apply for ERC funding. More than 15 countries now operate dedicated support schemes, including programmes that provide national funding for highly ranked ERC proposals that were not funded at European level. These initiatives are financed through a variety of sources, including national budgets, public-private partnerships, EU Structural Funds, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Even modest gains can have significant positive impact. ERC grantees in widening countries can act as catalysts for stronger research environments, attracting talent from abroad and encouraging more excellent scientists to apply in the future. The white paper describes such research groups as 'happy islands' that demonstrate the transformative impact of excellence-driven funding.
At the European level, the ERC over the years introduced a range of measures to support researchers from less well-performing regions, without deviating from the scientific excellence criterion. These include more inclusive research assessment criteria, the ERC Visiting Research Fellow programmes, the ERC Mentoring Initiative, support for National Contact Points and the Ambassadors for the ERC network.
The white paper stresses that progress will require action from multiple sides. Member States are encouraged to increase national investments in frontier research, reform academic systems where necessary, and create stronger synergies between national funding instruments and EU Cohesion Funds.
For its part, the ERC will deepen its engagement with stakeholders in Widening countries through intensified policy dialogue, targeted communication and strengthened support networks involving ERC grantees, the Ambassadors for the ERC and national funding bodies.
This white paper provides detailed data on participation and success rates, analyses the factors behind current disparities and presents examples of successful national and institutional initiatives designed to improve competitiveness in ERC calls.
