Nearly 50 million euros of ERC grants for EPFL, despites obstacles

27. EPFL fared well in the competition for European Research Council (ERC) grants in 2014 and 2015 within the Horizon 2020 framework, with 11 researchers winning an Advanced Grant. That translates into 2.5 million euros over five years for each of them. This may be Switzerland's last stand, since its eligibility for European research and funding programs is in jeopardy. The country had an excellent showing in the first two rounds of grant awards by the European Research Council under the Horizon 2020 program: Swiss researchers were awarded 42 Advanced Grants worth an average 2.5 million euros over five years. EPFL alone accounted for 11 of these prestigious prizes, with four in 2014 and seven in 2015 (see list below). EPFL researchers also came away with four Starting Grants, six Consolidator Grants and three Proof of Concept Grants, for a total amount exceeding 49 million euros.