The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded €571m in Synergy Grants to 57 cutting-edge research projects.
This ambitious initiative, under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, is set to address some of today’s most intricate scientific challenges by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Each Synergy Grant supports teams of researchers in combining their unique expertise, resources, and insights to push scientific frontiers.
Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, commented: “Innovation thrives on collaboration, especially when tackling the pressing scientific challenges of our time.
“The ERC Synergy Grants work with Horizon Europe funding to connect brilliant minds across borders and disciplines, enabling them to push the frontiers of knowledge together.
“I am particularly delighted to see researchers from countries with historically fewer ERC grants among the awardees, reflecting our mission to foster scientific excellence across Europe.”
Synergy Grants drive research collaboration beyond borders
The recent Synergy Grants call attracted 548 proposals, with 57 selected projects involving 201 researchers working in 184 universities and research centres across 24 countries.
Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Spain, and the Netherlands are the top locations hosting the majority of projects.
For the first time, research groups in countries such as the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Portugal received Synergy Grants, expanding the programme’s reach into new territories.
International and gender inclusivity drive new horizons
Highlighting the grants’ global reach, 22 projects involve at least one researcher based outside Europe, including the US, Switzerland, Australia, and South Korea.
This international collaboration brings fresh perspectives and talent to European-led research. Additionally, 32% of participating researchers are women, marking a record high for gender diversity in Synergy Grant projects, with six entirely female-led teams.
Which projects have received Synergy Grants?
The ERC Synergy Grants fund projects aimed at addressing major global challenges.
Understanding the ocean’s nitrogen cycle and climate impact
The RECLESS project tackles the complex role of nitrogen in marine ecosystems, which is essential for supporting marine photosynthesis and global carbon storage.
As ocean deoxygenation expands, nitrogen cycling by microbes in low-oxygen areas – though covering just 0.1% of ocean volume – leads to substantial nitrogen loss.
Researchers Laura Bristow, Bo Thamdrup, Katharina Kitzinger, and Emily Zakem are building the first global model of nitrogen-transforming microbes in these areas, assessing how deoxygenation impacts nitrogen cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon balance, with €9.9m in funding over 72 months.
Building eco-efficient concrete infrastructure
Addressing the high carbon emissions from traditional cement, the FATRESCON project aims to develop eco-efficient concretes for resilient infrastructure.
Researchers will examine the microstructural roots of concrete fatigue, which is critical in mitigating infrastructure degradation from cyclic loading.
The team’s research, supported by €10m in funding, will integrate novel materials science approaches with computational modelling to improve concrete durability and extend service life.
Enhancing democratic participation through digital innovation
The ADDI project is developing digital platforms to enhance democratic engagement by allowing communities to participate in decision-making on complex policy issues.
An interdisciplinary team is creating and testing open-source tools to facilitate interaction, feedback, and voting in deliberative settings.
With €9.9m in funding, the project will conduct trials to refine these tools, aiming to make digital democratic innovations accessible worldwide.
Click here to see the full list of selected projects.
These Synergy Grants represent a significant stride toward global, inclusive scientific discovery and innovation, reinforcing Europe’s role in addressing complex, worldwide scientific issues.
