ERC Horizons: Pushing the Boundaries of Research

[Article] - Published on April 30, 2025 in Major Programs, International Partnerships, Research Clusters, Flagship Projects, Commercialization

Between 2014 and 2021, mathematician Jean-Pierre Bourguignon served as president of the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) for seven years, including one year on an interim basis. On March 31, he participated in the event “ERC Horizons in Montpellier: European Research Meetings, ” organized by the University of Montpellier in partnership with the CNRS, INSERM, and IRD. On that occasion, he shared his experience and reflections on the programs coordinated and funded by the European institution to support exploratory and bold research. He is convinced that more of our researchers—both men and women—must apply and overcome their doubts at all costs!

Can we say that ERC grants are intended to fund scientific projects “at the frontiers of knowledge”?

We’re talking about “exploratory” research projects, which means that the focus of your project isn’t yet very well defined—and, above all, that you’ll be taking risks. Because when you’re exploring, you can’t be sure you’ll be able to see your idea through to the end. On the other hand, you’re convinced there’s great potential—that you’ve stumbled upon an idea that no one has yet thought through in depth. The panel members evaluating your project need to read your proposal and think, “This istruly a novel idea—I wish I’d thought of it myself! ”

For a researcher, it's not always easy to know if an idea is a good one…

That’s why I recommend testing your project with other people—not just your immediate circle—before submitting it. That’s how you’ll find out if what you think is a good idea really is one. On the other hand, if someone tells you , “You’re dreaming, ” don’t get discouraged. Especially if, at the same time, others are telling you , “That’s great!” In that case, don’t hesitate to go for it!

Let's not forget one important quality: the ability to overcome failure!

It’s very important not to get discouraged if you weren’t selected on your first try. On the contrary, review all the reports written by the panel members about your project—an average of 6 to 11 if the project was selected for a presentation. When reading a report, you may sometimes disagree with the reviewer and feel that the criticism is unwarranted. Be careful: even if you know exactly what you want to say, the panel members may read something different from what you had in mind. This underscores the importance of having different people review your proposal beforehand. Proofreading not only improves the quality of your writing but also eliminates ambiguities that could ultimately work against you. 

Is boldness an essential element?

It’s truly encouraging. We’ve heard this from the testimonials of ERC awardees: many similar projects submitted to a national agency were rejected because they were deemed too risky. Yet, when submitted to the ERC, they succeeded on the first try! We see this not only in France but also in many other countries: ambitious and groundbreaking projects tend to be less well accepted and less supported than more routine and reassuring projects. The scientific community has a strong tendency to be conservative and to undervalue risk-taking. That is a fact. It is therefore vital that there be a program at the European level that does not have this negative bias against risk.

In your opinion, should our researchers be encouraged to apply more often?

France has a massive shortage of grant applications. If we don’t have enough successful ERC projects in France, it’s precisely because the researchers working here aren’t submitting enough applications… We really need to resolve this long-standing problem. And it’s even getting worse! Given that research funding in France has stagnated at 2.2% of GDP, securing more money from the European budget is essential to better fund research in our country. When I speak on this topic, I don’t talk much about the Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals won by ERC grantees. I prefer to highlight the roughly 10,000 researchers whom the ERC has enabled to establish research teams. Since France is one of the major European countries—at least in terms of size—we should be seeing a significant number of project proposals submitted, commensurate with the roughly 18% of the European budget that France contributes. Yet the percentage of applications originating from a French institution is only 12%, a figure barely offset by a success rate that is slightly above the European average.

Yet there are no age limits, no restrictions on fields or topics—anything is possible!

Absolutely. In fact, we’ve observed that the shortage of applications in France is greatest in the humanities and social sciences. Listening to the testimonials of the awardees, we can easily see just how much of a positive—and often radically positive—impact ERC support has on their careers. Not only does it enable them to carry out an ambitious project, but it also generates a much higher level of international visibility and appeal. With an ERC grant, you can attract higher-level collaborators than you would for a traditional project, which means the work you’ll do collectively will be much better. 

Does getting an ERC contract also help you build your network?

Researchers have told me that presenting their projects to colleagues opened the door to new collaborations. Whether at the University of Montpellier or within other communities, it is very beneficial for people who don’t know each other to come together and discuss science. Fostering the development of a community of ERC grantees can promote interdisciplinarity by enabling them to share—among themselves and more broadly—the lessons they have personally learned, and allow them to take full advantage of this extraordinary diversity.

In fact, you mentioned that a significant portion of the projects are interdisciplinary.

Monique Smaihi, head of the Call Coordination Unit at the ERC Executive Agency, spoke about the ERC’s anonymous evaluation, designed to measure the impact of the projects it funds. This evaluation is conducted annually on 250 projects selected at random two years after their completion. We discovered that interdisciplinary projects very often had a greater impact—both scientific and economic—than other projects. That was a real surprise! And one more reason to encourage interdisciplinarity. 

Any advice for project leaders? 

An ERC proposal needs time to mature; I don’t think it’s something you can put together on the back of an envelope in a single evening—or even in a week. I know that the University of Montpellier has established support procedures, which is great because you absolutely must not censor yourself. It’s also very important to realize that ERC calls for proposals allow for many different formats. Before writing your proposal, I encourage you to read several others—regardless of discipline—since the ERC posts an online overview of all funded projects. You’ll come to appreciate the extraordinary diversity. One last thing: I’ve often heard young researchers say , “I’m not good enough”… What matters is your project! You’re not being evaluated based on your resume, but on your ability to propose a bold project with a clear plan for developing it. It’s worth taking the risk. So if you have a good idea, go for it!

Keywords: Research, University