In a critical juncture for European science, the Association of ERC Grantees (AERG) has issued a powerful statement expressing profound concern about the future trajectory of fundamental research in Europe. This statement arises amidst ongoing deliberations on the successor to Horizon Europe, the current European Union framework programme for research and innovation. AERG warns that proposed structural changes—in particular, integrating the European Research Council (ERC) into a broader European Competitiveness Fund—pose a severe risk to the ERC’s autonomy, a factor essential for maintaining the integrity and success of fundamental, curiosity-driven science.
The ERC, since its inception in 2007, has emerged as an unparalleled engine for frontier research across the continent. It operates as a bottom-up grant agency, independent of political agendas, dedicated solely to scientific excellence. Over the last 18 years, the ERC has funded over 14,000 principal investigators, catalyzing innovations that have led to more than 2,200 patents and intellectual property rights applications, as well as over 400 spin-off companies. This outstanding record includes no fewer than 14 Nobel laureates whose pioneering work was supported by ERC grants. Such achievements highlight the ERC’s role not only as a funding body but also as a cornerstone of European scientific preeminence and global competitiveness.
However, the current policy discourse threatens to fundamentally alter this landscape by subjecting the ERC’s budget and governance to overarching influences from a proposed European Competitiveness Fund. This integration risks subordinating the unique mission of the ERC to broader, programmatic research agendas that prioritize incremental, market-driven outputs over the unpredictable breakthroughs characteristic of curiosity-driven fundamental science. Professor Karin Roelofs, vice president of AERG and expert in experimental psychopathology, aptly describes fundamental research as “the immune system of a healthy, safe and equal society.” She underlines how the non-directed, exploratory nature of fundamental science frequently yields transformative innovations exceeding the outcomes of more programmed, goal-oriented research efforts.
The danger lies chiefly in the competition for resources between programmatic and fundamental research within a single funding stream. Programmatic research, with its clear-cut, goal-oriented narratives, is inherently more marketable to policymakers and the public. In contrast, fundamental research thrives in environments of intellectual freedom and long-term investment without immediate practical applications. Axel Cleeremans, President of AERG and research director at the Belgian Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique, stresses that dilution of the ERC’s independence in the current political climate endangers Europe’s ability to foster truly pioneering scientific advances. Without safeguarding the ERC’s autonomy, there is a palpable risk that Europe’s scientific agenda will be shaped more by short-term competitiveness metrics than by visionary exploration.
AERG’s statement calls for urgent European leadership to reaffirm and bolster the ERC’s autonomy and significantly increase its funding. Enhanced independence would involve establishing the ERC as a stand-alone institution with its own legal and governance structures—a move vital for operational stability and scientific integrity over the next two decades. Furthermore, the current funding constraints are stark: nearly 40% of researchers who meet the ERC’s stringent excellence criteria are not funded simply due to budget limits. This funding shortfall represents a profound lost opportunity for nurturing talent and catalyzing breakthroughs that could transform European society and economy.
Increasing the ERC’s budget is not a mere bureaucratic concern; it is central to maintaining Europe’s competitive edge in global science and innovation. The world is evolving, with emerging challenges such as climate change, health crises, and digital transformation necessitating fundamental scientific insights that can only arise from research conducted without prescriptive constraints. The ERC’s unique role is to support this spectrum of discovery, uncovering principles and phenomena that form the basis for transformative technologies and policies in the future.
Crucially, the statement emphasizes the complementary nature of fundamental and programmatic research. Both have indispensable roles, but their aims, timescales, and methods differ markedly. The former thrives under conditions of academic freedom and long-term curiosity, while the latter addresses targeted, often short-term societal or market needs. Combining funding under a Competitiveness Fund could provoke constant renegotiations over priorities, skewing resources toward immediately marketable projects while marginalizing the fundamental science that underpins tomorrow’s groundbreaking innovations.
To secure Europe’s scientific future, AERG advocates for a renewed legal and operational framework for the ERC. Entrenching its autonomy and ensuring a dedicated budget will fortify the agency’s ability to attract and retain the world’s best scientific talent. Such a structure is fundamental not only to scientific excellence but also to the broader societal benefits that stem from transformative discoveries, such as new technologies, informed public policies, and enhanced quality of life.
The statement is a clarion call to Europe’s political leaders to recognize and prioritize the unique value of fundamental research in maintaining the continent’s scientific leadership. As the successor to Horizon Europe takes shape, these leaders face a crucial decision: to affirm the ERC’s independent status and provide it with the resources commensurate with its proven impact, or risk undermining the very foundation of Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
By doing so, Europe will continue to foster a vibrant research ecosystem where intellectual freedom and scientific rigor drive progress. This commitment will ensure that fundamental research remains a robust driver of societal advancement and economic growth, translating today’s visionary ideas into the technologies and solutions of tomorrow.
The Association of ERC Grantees reinforces its dedication to promoting excellence-based, bottom-up science as a global model. It remains committed to advocating for policies that support the ERC’s autonomy, funding, and scientific leadership, recognizing these factors as essential for Europe to lead the next generation of transformative discoveries.
For the science community and policymakers alike, this moment demands action to secure the ERC’s future as an autonomous, well-funded entity. The association underlines that nurturing fundamental research is not merely an academic ideal but a strategic necessity for all advanced societies committed to innovation, health, sustainability, and equity.
The ERC’s legacy and continuing success epitomize the power of unfettered curiosity and excellence-driven funding, which together act as the backbone of Europe’s scientific and technological prowess. AERG’s statement resounds as an urgent appeal, affirming that enhancing the ERC’s autonomy and resources is imperative to sustaining a flourishing, competitive, and innovative Europe in the decades ahead.
Subject of Research: Fundamental and Curiosity-Driven Scientific Research; European Research Council Autonomy; Science Policy and Funding in the European Union
Article Title: Association of ERC Grantees Urges Protection and Expansion of the European Research Council’s Autonomy and Funding Amid EU Framework Programme Reforms
News Publication Date: 2 June 2025
Web References:
- AERG official statement and resources available at https://aerg.eu
- Speech by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on ERC’s role at CERN 70th anniversary, October 1, 2024
Image Credits: AERG
Keywords: Science policy, research funding, fundamental science, European Research Council, ERC autonomy, Horizon Europe, scientific excellence, innovation policy, curiosity-driven research, research governance, competitiveness fund, EU research framework
