European funder must increase capacity to meet the ambition of scientists

"The ERC has admitted that it cannot comfortably handle the number of grant applications that it receives. And, in response, it intends to limit how many grants researchers can apply for, and how long unsuccessful candidates have to wait before they can re-apply."

"Instead of expanding its capacity, the ERC is raising barriers that will keep people out. This trend indicates that the system lacks the capacity to handle the scale of European scientific ambition."

"The situation calls for more structural investment, not for gatekeeping. The ERC has already taken some steps to improve capacity, streamlining procedures and increasing the number of people on peer-review panels."

The European Research Council announced changes to grant eligibility rules due to a surge in applications, limiting how many grants researchers can apply for. Although some changes were partially reverted, concerns remain about access to funding. The ERC's approach raises barriers instead of expanding capacity, which is necessary to support scientific ambition. The peer-review process must be protected, but the current system struggles with demand. Structural investment is needed to improve capacity rather than implementing restrictive measures.

Read at Nature