Twelve TAU researchers receive grants from European Research Council

The European Research Council, as part of the first round of its ‘Horizon 2020′ Program, has awarded 25 Advanced Grants  to Israeli universities, with TAU receiving 48% of the grants. ‘Horizon 2020' is the largest ever research and development program initiated by the European Union, and will award €80 billion in grant money by 2020. Each of the twelve Tel Aviv University researchers will receive a grant ranging between one and two million euros. 

"This is a dramatic success for our researchers," said Ms. Leah Pais, Director of TAU's Research Authority, "It puts them on a par with the world’s leading researchers.” They've received international recognition."

Israeli institutions overall have had the greatest success is securing ERC Advanced Grants, and Tel Aviv University has been at the top of the list. The selection process involves two stages, with the first being a research proposal and the second a presentation of the research in Brussels, Belgium. Israeli institutions have an average 47% chance of continuing to the second stage, with TAU's chances being 56%. Next in line are French and Dutch institutions, whose chances average 36%. 

Of the 34 research proposals submitted by TAU scientists, 35% received funding, while the European average is 10%. 

The twelve researchers to have  been awarded ERC funding are from TAU's George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences and Iby and Aladar Fleishmann Faculty of Engineering.