ERC grants for young researchers to spark 'brain-gain'[fr] 

The European Research Council (ERC ), officially launched in 2007, has received an overwhelming number of applications in response to its first call for proposals for the Starting Independent Investigator Grants. It states that, among the 9,167 project proposals received, a significant number of applications came from applicants that "currently reside overseas". 

ERC stresses that the sole criterion to select the projects to be funded will be excellence, ie the scientific quality of the project proposal. Therefore, succesful project proposals can well come from applicants from both member states and third countries.

Third-country applicants for ERC starting grants are possible as long as the researcher is based in one EU country for the period of the grant. According to ERC, "over time, ERC can enhance the competitiveness of Europe by recruiting overseas research talent". 

The European Research Council's 'Starting Grants' provide support for young researchers who have completed their doctoral studies and wish to establish their first research team or do their own independent research. 

The first call's budget, some €290 million, has been pre-allocated to three domains: social sciences and humanities (15%), life sciences including medicine (40%) and physical, mathematical and engineering sciences (45%).