The European Research Council (ERC) announced the results of the 2025 Starting Grant competition. Out of 3,928 applications from across Europe, 478 researchers received funding. Among the winners were six scientists who will conduct their projects in Poland—the best result in three years. The grants were awarded to two technical universities, one general university, two institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and one institute within the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
This year, 68 applications were submitted from Poland. Six projects received funding, each worth 1.5 million euros over five years. This is a significant achievement, considering that in previous years Polish researchers received three (2023) and two (2024) Starting Grants, respectively. In 2024, an additional grant was transferred from abroad.
Laureates and Their Projects:
Wrocław University of Science and Technology – Dr. hab. Anna Siekierka, Eng.
The ReHeal4waste project focuses on developing new membranes for battery recycling, enabling the selective separation of valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. The research will contribute to creating more environmentally friendly technologies for recovering strategic raw materials and producing hydrogen as a byproduct of the process.
Warsaw University of Technology – Dr. Wojciech Krauze, Eng.
The Re.HOT project aims to develop the world’s first microscopic method allowing non-invasive measurement of the three-dimensional distribution of the refractive index in living biological tissues. Innovative holographic tomography will open new possibilities in medical diagnostics and materials engineering.
Mathematical Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences – Dr. Damian Dąbrowski
The QPROJECT focuses on studying projections in geometric measure theory. The researcher intends to solve three key mathematical hypotheses, including the so-called visibility hypothesis. The results could influence advancements in harmonic analysis and applied mathematics.
University of Szczecin – Dr. Dominik Paprotny
The EuroSoHo project aims to create a dynamic model of social responses to floods, considering climate change and socio-economic factors. The study’s outcomes will aid better adaptation planning in Europe and assess preventive measures’ effectiveness—ranging from building levees to population relocation.
Nuclear Physics Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków – Dr. Rene Poncelet
The STAPLE project involves precise simulations of events in the Large Hadron Collider. Improved computer models will allow for more accurate interpretation of experimental data and could contribute to new discoveries in elementary particle physics.
Polish Technology Development Center (PORT), Łukasiewicz Research Network – Dr. Mykhailo Batiuk
The sc-PTSD project is devoted to research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using modern single-cell genomics techniques, the researcher will analyze epigenetic mechanisms leading to the development of mental disorders. The goal is to create precise models and new therapies that could help individuals suffering from PTSD.
In the 2025 Starting Grant competition, a total of €761 million was awarded. The largest number of grants went to Germany (99), the United Kingdom (60), the Netherlands (44), and France (41). The biggest group of awardees comes from Germany (87 people), Italy (55), France (33), the UK, and Spain (32 each).
ERC Starting Grants are among the most prestigious in Europe. They are awarded to young researchers (2–7 years after completing their PhDs) who have presented bold, pioneering, and potentially groundbreaking scientific projects. These grants offer not only financial support but also prestige, facilitating international collaborations and building independent research teams.
