Mumbai, India
Mumbai, India © Rakeshpate

ERC hopes to attract Indian talent to H2020

The European Research Council has travelled to India in an attempt to attract new applications from South Asia.

The secretary general of the ERC, Professor Donald Dingwell, held meetings with key representatives and researchers from leading universities and institutions in the key Indian cities of Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Speaking about the trip, Dingwell said: “The climate of science, education and research in India is very positive…we are more confident than ever that Indian researchers will respond to this remarkable opportunity.”

The ERC funds leading researchers from anywhere in the world, and their innovative ideas across all scientific disciplines. Researchers can receive up to €3.5m per grant.

Dingwell is currently on a ‘worldwide tour’ with the hope of developing closer links with non-EU countries as well as inform researchers about European funding opportunities. The ERC has awarded €5.7bn to over 3,400 scientists since its launch in 2007, including grants to 13 Indian researchers.

The ERC is expected to see its budget double under the next EU research framework programme, Horizon 2020.