Europe's Premier Research Funding Mechanisms Under Strain
The European research landscape relies heavily on competitive grant programmes administered through Horizon Europe, the European Research Council (ERC), and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). These initiatives support frontier science, postdoctoral training, and collaborative projects across universities and research institutions in EU member states and associated countries. In recent years, application volumes have surged while available budgets have not kept pace, resulting in sharply declining success rates that now hover in the low double digits or single digits for many schemes.
Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme running through 2027 with an indicative budget of approximately 93.5 billion euros, has seen overall success rates drop to around 12 percent in 2025 calls. Individual schemes within the programme, particularly those under the European Innovation Council, have recorded rates as low as 2 percent in some instances. This trend reflects a broader pattern of heightened competition driven by record numbers of proposals from researchers seeking support for ambitious projects in areas ranging from health and climate to digital technologies and fundamental science.
ERC and MSCA: Prestigious Schemes Face Record Demand
The ERC, which funds investigator-driven frontier research through Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants, reported a 12.2 percent success rate for its 2025 Starting Grants call. Out of 3,928 applications, 478 projects received funding. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships experienced even steeper competition, with 17,066 applications yielding 1,610 awards at a 9.6 percent success rate. These figures represent historic highs in submissions, underscoring growing interest in European research opportunities amid global shifts in scientific talent mobility.
Similar pressures appear in national funding bodies that complement EU programmes. In the Netherlands, the Dutch Research Council (NWO) maintains a target success rate of at least 25 percent for talent schemes, yet demand often exceeds capacity, leading to early closures of rounds. Germany and other high-performing systems maintain relatively stronger outcomes, while widening countries—those with comparatively lower research investment—continue to face success rates between 1 and 7 percent.
Structural Factors Driving the Widening Performance Gap
An ERC Scientific Council white paper published in March 2026 examined the persistent imbalance between Europe's strongest research systems and widening countries. These nations represent roughly one-quarter of the EU population yet secure only about one-twentieth of ERC grants. Structural issues such as differences in national research ecosystems, access to high-quality infrastructure, mentoring networks, and administrative support contribute to the disparity. Researchers in widening countries often operate with fewer resources for proposal preparation and institutional backing compared with counterparts in leading nations like the Netherlands, Germany, and France, where success rates have historically exceeded the European average.
The white paper highlights that success rates for widening-country applicants have improved modestly from around 3 percent in the Seventh Framework Programme to approximately 8 percent under Horizon Europe, but the gap remains significant. Recommendations include enhanced national-level support, institutional capacity building, and targeted ERC initiatives to foster a more balanced pan-European research area without compromising the core principle of excellence-based selection.
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Impacts on Researchers and Institutional Capacity
Low success rates impose substantial opportunity costs. Researchers report dedicating hundreds of hours to proposal writing, often with limited prospects of funding. This diverts time from core activities such as conducting experiments, mentoring students, and publishing findings. Early-career researchers, including postdoctoral fellows and those seeking tenure-track positions, face particular challenges as repeated rejections can stall career progression in systems where grant success increasingly serves as a proxy for research excellence.
Universities across Europe experience ripple effects. Institutions in high-performing countries benefit from concentrated funding inflows that support infrastructure and talent retention, while those in widening regions struggle to build momentum. The hypercompetitive environment also contributes to administrative overload, with senior academics spending increasing portions of their time on grant management rather than scientific leadership. Reports from academic networks indicate rising concerns about burnout and talent attrition, with some researchers considering opportunities outside academia or relocating to systems perceived as more stable.
Perspectives from Across the European Research Community
Stakeholders offer varied viewpoints on the sustainability of the current model. ERC leadership has acknowledged the frustration caused by rising applications without corresponding budget growth, noting that many excellent ideas remain unfunded. University associations and research organisations have called for substantial increases in the next framework programme budget, proposed at 175 billion euros for 2028-2034, alongside measures to reduce bureaucracy and improve success rates.
Representatives from widening countries emphasise the need for complementary national investments and collaborative schemes that build capacity without altering selection criteria. Meanwhile, established institutions highlight the value of competitive funding in driving quality but warn against over-reliance on project-based models that create precarious employment conditions for research staff.
Broader Implications for Europe's Scientific Standing
The trend toward lower success rates risks undermining Europe's ability to attract and retain top talent in a global competition for researchers. With increasing numbers of proposals from outside the EU and growing interest from US-based scientists in European opportunities, the system must balance openness with support for domestic capacity. Persistent gaps between regions could weaken the overall cohesion of the European Research Area, limiting the continent's collective response to grand challenges in health, sustainability, and technological sovereignty.
Analyses from policy bodies suggest that sustained underfunding of successful proposals may accelerate brain drain, particularly among early-career researchers who seek more predictable career paths. This dynamic threatens the pipeline of future scientific leaders essential for maintaining Europe's innovation edge.
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Potential Pathways Toward Greater Stability
Discussions among policymakers and institutional leaders point to several constructive directions. Increasing overall research budgets remains a priority, as evidenced by proposals for the next multiannual financial framework. Complementary measures include expanded use of structural or block funding to provide baseline stability for universities, reducing the proportion of research activity reliant on highly competitive grants.
Targeted support for widening countries through mentoring programmes, joint applications, and capacity-building initiatives offers another avenue. Streamlining application processes and providing better feedback mechanisms could lower the administrative burden. Some experts advocate for hybrid models that combine competitive excellence funding with sustained institutional support, aiming to preserve the benefits of peer review while mitigating the downsides of extreme competition.
Looking Ahead: Balancing Excellence and Inclusivity
As Horizon Europe enters its final years and preparations advance for the subsequent programme, the European research community faces a pivotal moment. Maintaining high standards of scientific excellence while addressing systemic pressures on success rates will require coordinated action across EU institutions, national governments, and universities. The goal remains a vibrant, inclusive research ecosystem capable of delivering breakthroughs that benefit society.
Stakeholders continue to monitor developments closely, with ongoing dialogues at bodies such as the Competitiveness Council and through stakeholder consultations. Success in navigating these challenges will determine whether Europe can sustain its position as a global leader in research and innovation amid evolving demographic, economic, and geopolitical conditions.
