Christophe Salomon, a physicist and recipient of a European Research Council (ERC) grant, has been awarded the 2025 Balzan Prize for his research on ultra-cold atoms and the development of next-generation atomic clocks
The International Balzan Prize Foundation recognised Salomon’s groundbreaking contributions to time measurement, which have transformed the precision and reliability of modern atomic clocks.
The measurement of time
Salomon, a professor at the École Normale Supérieure and research director at the CNRS’s Kastler Brossel laboratory in Paris, has played a crucial role in advancing ultra-precise timekeeping. His work on laser-cooled fountain Cesium atomic clocks laid the foundation for state-of-the-art time measurement systems, now considered essential in navigation, communication, and fundamental physics research.
These atomic clocks are among the most crucial components in global timekeeping standards. They are essential to the European Space Agency’s ACES/PHARAO mission, which involves installing an advanced atomic clock on the International Space Station.
The space-based platform is expected to enhance the precision of global timekeeping further and enable experiments in fundamental physics within a microgravity environment.
ERC grants for research
Salomon’s research has received support from the European Research Council through two Advanced Grants. These grants have supported research into quantum phenomena, such as d-wave superfluidity, and the behaviour of atomic Fermi gases in lower-dimensional systems.
By exploring the quantum nature of matter at temperatures near absolute zero, Salomon has helped unlock new understanding of many-body systems and phase transitions. These insights not only deepen scientific knowledge but also pave the way for future technological innovations in quantum computing and sensing.
The ERC Advanced Grant scheme supports established researchers who have a proven track record of significant research achievements in the last decade. Salomon’s success reflects the cutting-edge nature of the projects funded by the ERC, which remains a cornerstone of Europe’s research landscape.
The Balzan Prize
The Balzan Prize is awarded annually and honours outstanding achievements in the humanities, natural sciences, and efforts that contribute to peace and human well-being.
Each prize is worth 750,000 Swiss francs, with half of the amount designated to support the research of early-career scientists under the recipient’s mentorship.
With Salomon’s win, the total number of ERC grantees who have received a Balzan Prize rises to 16, highlighting the ERC’s impact in fostering world-leading research across Europe.
More about the ERC
The European Research Council was established by the European Union in 2007 to support frontier research across all disciplines. It provides funding to any researchers, provided that their work is based in Europe.
The ERC is part of the Horizon Europe programme and has a budget of over €16 billion for the 2021-2027 period. It also offers a range of grant schemes, including Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, and Synergy Grants. The Proof of Concept Grant scheme also helps researchers explore the commercial and societal applications of their discoveries.
The ERC is controlled by the independent Scientific Council and led by President Maria Leptin since 2021. Oversight of the Horizon Europe programme, including the ERC, falls under the remit of the European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, who is also responsible for Startups, as well as Ekaterina Zaharieva.
