European Research Council awards 705 million euros in grants

The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the winners of its latest Starting Grant round, distributing 705 million euros among 421 researchers. Italy secured a significant position in the rankings, with 50 Italian winners placing the country second behind Germany, which had 84.

Among the recipients are Bocconi University researchers Grace Ballor and Matthias Rodemeier. Ballor’s project, EURISK, will utilize historical research to examine how European institutions, businesses, and insurers have attempted to manage and redistribute climate risk since the 1990s.

The ERC reported a record 4,807 applications this year, a 22 percent increase from the previous cycle. The European Commission noted a growing interest from non-European researchers, including a rise in applicants from the United States, as part of the ‘Choose Europe’ initiative aimed at attracting global scientific talent.