(European Research Council) The European Research Council has announced today the awarding of its Starting Grants to 406 early-career researchers throughout Europe. The funding, worth 605 million in total and up to 1.5 million per grant, will enable them to set up their own research teams and pursue ground-breaking ideas. The share of women amongst the new grantees is the largest ever in an ERC competition and there was also more diversity in terms of nationalities.