The Association of ERC Grantees (AERG) and the Ambassadors for the ERC network have published a joint statement addressing the recent discussions surrounding the announced restrictions on the resubmission of ERC grant proposals and the subsequent decision of the ERC Scientific Council to readjust these rules.
AERG welcomes the ERC Scientific Council’s willingness to listen to concerns raised by the research community and to reconsider the proposed measures. This development highlights the importance of dialogue with relevant stakeholders when significant changes affecting applicants and evaluation procedures are under consideration.
As outlined in the statement, the recent debate reflects broader structural pressures currently facing the European Research Council. The steady increase in the number of applications, combined with persistently limited funding, is placing growing strain on the evaluation system.
AERG fully supports the ERC’s objective of maintaining the quality and integrity of its evaluation processes while continuing to expand opportunities for excellent researchers across Europe. At the same time, the association stresses that procedural adjustments alone cannot address the underlying challenge.
Low success rates represent a significant burden not only for the ERC as an institution, but also for researchers, who invest substantial time and effort in preparing highly competitive proposals that often remain unfunded. As ERC evaluations continue to serve as a benchmark of scientific excellence across Europe, ensuring that the organisation has adequate resources and capacity is a shared responsibility.
In this context, AERG reiterates its strong support for substantially increased European investment in research and innovation, including a doubling of the ERC budget. Strengthening long-term funding for frontier research is essential to preserve Europe’s competitiveness in global science and technology and to ensure that the ERC can continue fulfilling its mission.
The ERC remains one of Europe’s most successful research funding instruments. Ensuring its long-term sustainability requires continued commitment from policymakers, institutions, researchers, and the wider innovation ecosystem.
Read the full statement here.