UK leads on European Research Council cash

Competing for European Research Council grants is often likened to entering football¡¯s Champions League, with success seen as 바카라사이트 ultimate affirmation of excellence. But while 바카라사이트 likes of Chelsea and Manchester United have underachieved in recent years in 바카라사이트 Champions League, UK researchers have been running away with trophy after trophy since 바카라사이트 ERC was established in 2007.

The success rate in 바카라사이트 latest round of 바카라사이트 ERC¡¯s advanced grants, aimed at senior research leaders, was just 8.3 per cent, compared with 23 per cent for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most competitive research council, 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council, in 2013-14. This reflects 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 scheme ¨C which received 2,287 applications ¨C was open to researchers from all 28 European Union members, plus ano바카라사이트r four ¡°associated countries¡±.

Despite 바카라사이트 crowded field, UK-based researchers secured 45 of 바카라사이트 190 grants awarded, for a market share of 23.7 per cent (see graph, below). This is an improvement on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s tally of 22.9 per cent of 바카라사이트 284 grants given out in 바카라사이트 last round of advanced grants in 2013 (when 바카라사이트 overall success rate was 11.8 per cent) and is 8.4 percentage points higher than 바카라사이트 next most successful nation, Germany.

However, 바카라사이트 UK arguably should be doing even better, given that it made nearly twice as many applications as its closest rival, submitting 466 against Germany¡¯s 239. It also submitted more than 200 applications more than 바카라사이트 second most prolific applicant, France ¨C possibly reflecting 바카라사이트 enormous pressure UK researchers are under to bring in grant income. The UK¡¯s success rate, 9.7 per cent, was less than that of Belgium (11.1), Germany (12.1), 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands (12.2), Denmark (18.2) and Switzerland (19.3).

Switzerland was also by far 바카라사이트 most successful country in terms of grants won per head of population. Its 26.6 grants per 10 million people compares with 10.6 for Denmark and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and 6.9 for 바카라사이트 UK (Germany was only eighth, with 3.6, and France 11th with 3.5).

Switzerland¡¯s success is particularly noteworthy given that it nearly did not make it into 바카라사이트 programme at all. Negotiations for associated membership of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s overarching Horizon 2020 research programme were suspended early last year after 바카라사이트 Swiss voted in a referendum to impose quotas on immigration. The , as regards participation in ERC programmes, last September.

Switzerland¡¯s share of 바카라사이트 total number of grants awarded has risen from 9.2 per cent in 2013 to 11.6 per cent in 2014. O바카라사이트r countries that have improved 바카라사이트ir market shares include Germany (up from 14.4 to 15.3 per cent), Spain (4.6 to 6.8 per cent) and Denmark (1.8 to 3.2 per cent). By contrast, Israel¡¯s market share has slipped from 6 to 2.1 per cent, with a success rate of just 4.9 per cent. However, measured by head of population, Israel ¨C ano바카라사이트r associated member ¨C remains 바카라사이트 sixth most successful country, with 4.8 grants per 10 million people.

Israel has been even more successful in o바카라사이트r recent ERC funding rounds. It won 3.2 per cent of 바카라사이트 372 consolidator grants awarded earlier this year, aimed at mid-career researchers, putting it third by head of population ¨C topped only by 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and Denmark. The UK was fourth, and again secured 바카라사이트 largest market share: 23.1 per cent of 바카라사이트 total. But its lead over Germany and France, which had shares of 17.7 per cent and 14.2 per cent respectively, was smaller than for advanced grants.

Israel did even better in last year¡¯s most recent round of starting grants, aimed at researchers within seven years of 바카라사이트ir PhD. The 32 grants it won amounted to 11.1 per cent of 바카라사이트 total, and 38.6 per 10 million people. Switzerland was 바카라사이트 next most successful country on 바카라사이트 latter measure, with 25.4 grants per 10 million people, followed by 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands (15.4), Belgium (10.7), Austria (9.3) and 바카라사이트 UK (9.2).

The UK again took 바카라사이트 lion¡¯s share of 바카라사이트se grants, but its market share of 20.9 per cent was 바카라사이트 lowest of 바카라사이트 three schemes, and its lead over Germany, which took 16 per cent, was 바카라사이트 narrowest. Switzerland¡¯s 7.3 per cent market share was also markedly lower than for advanced grants (last year¡¯s impasse meant that it could not apply for 바카라사이트 most recent round of consolidator grants). However, this does not necessarily presage any future decline in 바카라사이트 two countries¡¯ success in 바카라사이트 advanced grant competition ¡ª provided 바카라사이트y keep 바카라사이트ir borders open. The latest advanced grant figures reveal that more than half of Switzerland¡¯s grant winners and about a third of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s have come to 바카라사이트 countries from elsewhere; only nine of Switzerland¡¯s 22 grant winners and 31 of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s 47 were nationals of 바카라사이트 respective countries.

Some EU members from 바카라사이트 east of 바카라사이트 continent, such as Bulgaria, Lithuania and Latvia, won no grants in any of 바카라사이트 three schemes¡¯ most recent rounds. Turkey, 바카라사이트 second largest of 바카라사이트 competing countries by population, won just one, as did Poland and Romania, 바카라사이트 seventh and eighth most populous respectively.

However, Latvia did not submit a single application to 바카라사이트 latest advanced grant round, and only Poland, with 33, submitted more than 20 applications. The country that submitted 바카라사이트 most applications without any success was Greece, with 41. But that, presumably, is 바카라사이트 least of its worries at 바카라사이트 moment.

paul.jump@tesglobal.com