2024 ERC Proof of Concept: Five EUTOPIA researchers awarded grants

EUTOPIA is delighted to commend five of its exceptional researchers who have been awarded the European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept grants by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme.

In 2024, researchers from Ca’Foscari University of Venice, Technische Universität Dresden, University of Gothenburg, NOVA University of Lisbon, and Pompeu Fabra University represent EUTOPIA’s research excellence through their innovative projects.

The ERC Proof of Concept grants are awarded to help researchers explore the commercial and societal innovation potential of their ERC-funded research. These grants provide €150,000 for each project to bridge the gap between early-phase findings and their practical application. This funding hopes to encourage scientific results into tangible innovations that benefit industry and society.

The 2024 ERC Proof of Concept grants were awarded in two rounds, with a total of 245 projects funded this year. The second round alone saw 134 innovative projects supported, including the five outstanding contributions from EUTOPIA researchers.

The recipients are as follows:

• Valerio SIMONI, Ca’Foscari University of Venice, for his project “Conciliating a ‘Bearable Life’. Participatory Action Research on Entangled Cross-Border Mobilities”.
• Ivan MINEV, Technische Universität Dresden, for his project “Hydrogel Coatings for Improving the Efficiency of Implanted Electrode Arrays”.
• Giovanni VOLPE, University of Gothenburg, for his project “MiniTweezer: Optical Tweezers with Automation and Artificial Intelligence”.
• Filipe NATALIO, NOVA University of Lisbon, for his project “Bio-Engineered Dyeing Innovations for Sustainable Cotton Textiles”.
• Wolfram HINZEN, Pompeu Fabra University, for his project “Making sense of reference”.

The grants are part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, which supports researchers across all scientific disciplines including physical sciences, engineering, life sciences, social sciences and humanities. In order to qualify for these grants, researchers must have already been awarded an ERC frontier research grant.

EUTOPIA is very proud to see its researchers being recognised for their innovative contributions, which exemplify the Alliance’s commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in European research.