European Sovereignty Monitor

Industry, investment and R&D

ERC awards EUR 705 million in Starting Grants, draws researchers from US and Canada

The European Research Council awarded EUR 705 million in Starting Grants to 421 early-career researchers under its 2026 call. Twenty-one, mostly from the United States, are relocating to Europe under the Choose Europe scheme, which offers up to EUR 2 million extra for relocation costs.

Verified European Research Council press release, 3 September 2026

What it does not test. It does not establish that the relocating researchers will remain in Europe long-term or that this cohort's brain gain extends beyond these 21 grantees.

How this item counts. No movement: no answer to who owns, who operates, whose law governs or who made the parts changes. Weight 0. 21 researchers relocating changes no ownership/operation/law/parts answer. European Sovereignty Index

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