European Research Council to Award 373 Starting Grants
The 2027 program faces record demand with 7,710 applications submitted for funding.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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The European Research Council is set to award 373 Starting Grants in 2027 after receiving 7,710 project proposals. This record-breaking application volume marks a 60% increase from the previous year.
Why it matters
The massive surge in submissions is driven by new eligibility rules and the growing prominence of artificial intelligence research. With a total budget of €594 million, the council must navigate a highly competitive field for early-career researchers.
The council plans to award 373 grants from a total budget of €594 million. The projected success rate for applicants in 2027 is 4.8%, higher than the 3.4% seen during the inaugural 2007 call.
The players
European Research Council
This is the primary European funding organization for excellent frontier research across all fields.
The details
The increase in interest has been attributed to shifts in the grant program, including updated criteria for applicant eligibility. The council finalized these allocation figures and the total budget as part of its official 2027 work programme.
Timeline
The European Research Council held its inaugural grant call in 2007.
The 2027 Starting Grant call will see the awarding of funding later this year.
The Tech Race
This influx of proposals reflects a broader global escalation in artificial intelligence research competition. The 2027 work programme establishes a framework that balances legacy scientific pursuits with the rapid integration of emerging AI technologies.
The competitive selection process directly impacts how early-career scientists secure the resources necessary to develop new AI capabilities. Increased application volume suggests that researchers face significant hurdles in obtaining funding for high-impact innovation.
The takeaway
The record number of applicants highlights a highly competitive landscape for academic funding in the AI era. Early-career researchers should prepare for significantly lower odds of success compared to historical baselines.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research trends in Artificial Intelligence.
More information
View available grant opportunities on the European Commission funding and tenders portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Science Business.
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