The UK has returned to the top spot for European Research Council (ERC) advanced grants, with British institutions awarded more of these than any other country after years of post-Brexit turmoil.

Researchers based at 56 UK universities and institutions have won the prestigious ERC grants in the 2025 funding round, ahead of Germany (35 awards) and Italy (25 awards), as part of €721 million (£615 million) in grants  on 17 June.

The UK’s tally is boosted by its strong performance in social sciences and humanities, with its representing almost a third of 80 grants awarded for these disciplines.

That success pushed the UK ahead of Germany, which overtook the UK for grant winners after the 2016 Brexit vote and, subsequently, during Britain’s two-year absence from Horizon Europe.

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UK researchers were still encouraged to apply for the ERC during this period, with the Westminster government providing funding for successful projects via the Horizon Europe guarantee. Success levels nonetheless dipped dramatically, leading research funders to invest significant sums in encouraging applications.

Last year, Germany won 50 advanced grants compared with 42 from the UK, and 37 went to France, which won only 23 grants this year.

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The ERC’s advanced grants, each worth up to €2.5 million over five years, form one of Europe’s most competitive funding pots, with only 11 per cent of applicants awarded money. Overall, some 2,534 applied to the 2024 funding round, with German (45), Italian (37) and British (26) researchers winning the most.

Of the 281 projects funded, 118 were in physical sciences and engineering, 83 in life sciences and 80 in social sciences and humanities.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, commissioner for startups, research, and innovation, said the ERC grants indicated a “commitment to making Europe the world’s hub for excellent research”.

“By supporting projects that have the potential to redefine whole fields, we are not just investing in science but in the future prosperity and resilience of our continent,” she said.

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Next year’s round will also include additional funding to attract US researchers, continued Zaharieva, noting how “scientists moving to Europe will receive even greater support in setting up their labs and research teams here.”

“This is part of our ‘Choose Europe for Science’ initiative, designed to attract and retain the world’s top scientists,” she said.

This year’s funding announcement also drew attention to Switzerland’s absence from the 2024 funding round, with Brussels and the Swiss government yet to sign an agreement about Horizon Europe membership. Similar to the UK in previous years, successful Switzerland-based researchers (20 won ERC grants this year) will need to move to an institution eligible for EU funding or will need to contact their government to secure alternative funding.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com