A new European Research Council (ERC) report shows how frontier research in advanced materials is shaping Europe’s industrial competitiveness and supporting its transition to greener and more digital economies
Between 2014 and 2023, the ERC invested €2.37 billion in advanced materials, backing science that supports long-term technological and societal transformation.
The report analyses 1,503 ERC-funded research projects across 29 countries. While the findings suggest pathways from laboratory discovery to industrial application, the portfolio remains firmly grounded in fundamental research rather than short-term technological outcomes.
Advanced materials and societal transformation
The report shows that ERC-funded research is strongly aligned with these priorities, with project activity concentrated in health (36.5%), advanced electronics (36.5%) and energy (19%).
This distribution reflects the growing demand for materials that enable faster computing, improved medical devices, energy-efficient technologies and resilient infrastructure. The report positions advanced materials as a foundational enabler across multiple sectors, reinforcing their strategic importance within Europe’s broader policy ambitions.
Strong links to EU policy and industrial strategy
The analysis places ERC-funded research within the evolving EU policy landscape, highlighting links to initiatives such as the European Green Deal, the European Chips Act and the Competitive Compass.
Although ERC funding is not designed to target specific policy outcomes, the report shows how frontier science naturally feeds into long-term industrial and regulatory priorities.
By supporting early-stage discovery, the ERC creates a pipeline of knowledge that industry and policymakers can later draw upon. This approach allows Europe to maintain scientific leadership while building the foundations for future technological sovereignty.
Key material classes
The report identifies particularly strong scientific activity in several material classes that are expected to play a central role in future innovation. These include compound semiconductors, polymers, nanomaterials, perovskites, quantum materials and bio-integrated materials.
Research in these areas covers multiple disciplines, including materials science, physics, chemistry, engineering and life sciences. The diversity of approaches reflects the interdisciplinary nature of advanced materials research and highlights the ERC’s role in supporting collaboration across traditional scientific boundaries.
Excellence and Global Impact of ERC Research
The scientific impact of ERC-funded research in advanced materials is a key finding of the report. Publications linked to these projects are cited more than three times the global disciplinary average, indicating a high level of influence within the international research community.
Nearly 90% of these publications appear in top-quartile journals. These metrics provide strong evidence of the effectiveness of curiosity-driven funding in generating high-impact, long-term, relevant science.
The report was initiated ahead of the upcoming adoption of the EU Advanced Materials Act, providing timely evidence on how discovery-led research contributes to progress across health, electronics, energy, mobility and construction.
