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EPFL -- Swiss Institute receives most European ERC grants - 12.5 million Euro ($18.25 million)

September 16th, 2009

European universities have been competing for the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grants since 2007. These important subsidies, ranging from, on average, 1.5 million Euros for "Starting Grants" to 2.4 million Euros for "Advanced Grants," are major indicators of the quality of scientific research. For the second year in a row, the EPFL is ranked at the top of Europe with eight ERC grants in comparison to more traditional heavyweights such as Oxford and Cambridge receiving five and four grants respectively.

"The sole criterion for selection is scientific excellence in fundamental research," Benoît Deveaud-Plédran, Dean for Research at the EPFL, explains. "And they are therefore considered as a form of ranking among the institutions." This is a recent development in European grant allotment; before 2007 there were compensations made for various socio-economic factors, but today the scientific quality of the proposals is the only thing taken into consideration.

This year the ERC has awarded an outstanding eight Starting Grants, worth 12.5 million Euros, to the EPFL. Meant for young researchers, these grants will finance diverse scientific projects in the fields of neuroscience, computer science, material science, life science, and civil engineering at the Swiss institute over a five year period.

A mark of success

The EPFL already proved its first rank status in 2008 with 11 Advanced Grants destined for established researchers, more than any other institution in Europe. In less than one year, the EPFL occupies the unique standing of receiving 19 ERC grants for its researchers.

These 2009 results confirm the exceptional quality of scientific research at the EPFL. "In my opinion, we owe this success to the high quality of professorial hiring," explains Benoît Deveaud-Plédran, "and also that these new professors are used to looking for financing outside the institution."

Source: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Citation: EPFL -- Swiss Institute receives most European ERC grants - 12.5 million Euro ($18.25 million) (2009, September 16) retrieved 12 October 2024 from https://sciencex.com/wire-news/14550859/epfl-swiss-institute-receives-most-european-erc-grants-125.html

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