GoKawiilERC Starting Grant applications jump 62%, pushing success rate below 5%
The European Research Council received 7,710 Starting Grant proposals for 2027 funding by its October 14 deadline, up from 4,807 the previous year, while the number of available grants fell to 373 from 421 due to funding constraints. ERC president Maria Leptin said the surge is straining staff and reviewers, and the resulting success rate is expected to drop below 5%, down from 8.8% in the 2026 round.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
A success rate this low risks turning grant decisions into something closer to chance, which could mean strong research proposals go unfunded simply due to volume rather than merit, according to researcher Devang Mehta who called the process 'almost a lottery.' The ERC attributes part of the rise to AI tools making applications easier to write, suggesting that similar funding bodies worldwide may face comparable pressures as application volumes grow faster than budgets.
- ERC Starting Grant applications rose 62% to 7,710 for the 2027 cycle.
- Available grants fell to 373 from 421, pushing the success rate below 5%.
- AI-assisted application writing and rising global competition for grants are cited as contributing factors.
Source: nature.com — O Callaghan, 2026-10-28
Published there as: “Is research funding now a lottery? Elite funder ERC swamped by applications”
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