Large disparities

The group of lagging countries consists of fifteen EU member states. Together, they represent about a quarter of the EU population. These countries are improving somewhat, the ERC reports in a new study, but they still trail behind the rest.

In countries such as Greece, the Czech Republic, and Poland, the situation has improved. In recent years, their success rates have ranged between 8 and 10 percent. Between 2007 and 2011, that figure was 3 percent or less, according to ERC data dating back to 2007.

Still, these fifteen countries continue to secure relatively few grants. Over the past five years, the Netherlands received twice as many as all these countries combined. “It’s encouraging that success rates are increasing, but the number of applications remains low,” says Kaczmarek. “Many researchers in these countries don’t even apply, because they believe they have no chance anyway.”

Research environment

According to the ERC report, the low success rates are largely due to the research environment: these countries simply offer fewer opportunities for scientists. Researchers receive limited support when applying for grants and have fewer international connections to help advance their careers.

The change, therefore, must primarily come from within these countries themselves, the ERC argues. According to Kaczmarek, the ERC’s greatest strength lies in its soft power: “The ERC can encourage countries to improve their academic culture and offer more opportunities to top scientific talent.” That, he says, will have a greater impact than measures and programs alone.

Still, some support can help. In 2016, the ERC launched an exchange program allowing a scientist from, for example, Poland or Hungary to spend several months working with a research team in countries such as France, Germany, or the Netherlands.

In addition, the ERC introduced a mentoring program in 2021, in which successful scientists provide advice and training in preparing grant applications. In 2025, the ERC also invested 1.5 million euros in strengthening national contact points, enabling researchers to receive guidance and support in their own countries.

Postcode bias

Kaczmarek also warns of possible “postcode bias”: where you come from can influence your chances of receiving a grant. Reviewers may take this into account unconsciously, which is why it is important to make them aware of this risk.

Kaczmarek compares it to gender inequality in research. “For years, women were much less successful in applying for research grants,” he says. “Only when the scientific community acknowledged this did things begin to improve. People realized that unconscious bias played a role in grant evaluations.”

“That is not only unethical, but also a tremendous waste,” he adds. “We were wasting talent by not giving women the opportunity to reach their full potential. The same applies now to researchers from these fifteen countries.”

Happy islands

The ERC hopes that more so-called “happy islands” will eventually emerge in these lagging countries—places where the success of a few researchers inspires others to take a chance as well. These islands should be supported, Kaczmarek emphasizes: “Talent must be nurtured.”

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.