The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded €22.5 million in the first round of its 2025 Proof of Concept (PoC) Grants, supporting 150 innovative projects across Europe
Each selected researcher will receive €150,000 to explore the commercial or societal potential of their cutting-edge scientific work. The scheme is part of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.
PoC Grants are reserved for ERC grantees who are ready to transition their research from breakthrough discoveries to real-world applications. The funding helps develop prototypes, conduct market studies, or explore business opportunities, all essential steps in moving academic research toward innovation, entrepreneurship, or societal benefit.
Innovative projects
This year’s successful PoC projects cover a wide range of disciplines and practical challenges. Selected initiatives include the development of an AI-based tool to predict better conflict escalation and risk, a more sustainable method for producing paracetamol, and a tool designed to detect distortions in electricity pricing caused by dominant firms. Another standout project focuses on developing a portable device capable of capturing and detecting PFAS, also known as the “forever chemicals,” in water, a growing concern in environmental safety.
These examples demonstrate the ERC’s comprehensive approach to innovation, including a range of initiatives from environmental sustainability to digital transformation and public policy tools.
Geographic and national diversity
The 150 awarded projects are hosted at institutions across 21 EU Member States and associated countries. Germany leads with 27 grants, followed by Spain (20), the United Kingdom (17), and both France and the Netherlands with 12 each.
Awardees include 29 German nationals, 20 Spanish nationals, and 17 Italian researchers, as well as others. In total, the grantees represent 29 different nationalities, highlighting the ERC’s commitment to supporting international talent within Europe.
This round of the competition received 480 proposals, with more than 31% of them successfully selected for funding.
The next call is now open
Researchers interested in applying for a PoC Grants still have an opportunity this year. The next round of applications is now open, with a submission deadline of 18 September 2025. The 2025 ERC work programme includes two calls in total for PoC funding, with a combined budget of €45 million.
Eligibility is limited to researchers who currently hold, or have previously held, an ERC frontier research grant. These follow-up grants are designed to ensure that Europe’s investment in high-risk, high-reward science also yields tangible, wide-reaching outcomes.
According to a recent report, ERC Proof of Concept Grants have already demonstrated a significant impact across various sectors. From 2014 to 2023, 1,700 PoC projects were supported using just 1% of the ERC’s overall budget, helping to drive innovation, create start-ups, and influence policy.
The grants are proving to be a critical tool in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness by transforming scientific discoveries into market-ready products and services.
Swiss applicants and Horizon Europe
For applicants based in Switzerland, the current list of successful candidates remains provisional. Negotiations between the European Commission and the Swiss Government for Horizon Europe association are progressing, and a formal agreement is expected to be signed in 2025. Until then, Swiss-based researchers may need to move their projects to eligible institutions in the EU or associated countries to receive funding.
