The European Research Council experienced a significant decrease in the number of proposals it received in 2014 compared with the previous year, the council's annual report said.
In the report published on 24 March, the ERC said that its 2014 work programmes received a total of 8,084 proposals—a 14 per cent decrease from 2013. Proposals for consolidator grants—aimed at researchers that have more than seven years of experience since they completed their PhD—fell by a hefty 31 per cent, whereas for starting grants and advanced grants the decrease was smaller, at 2 per cent and 5 per cent respectively.
In 2014, the ERC’s scientific council introduced restrictions for reapplication to avoid oversubscription. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, president of the ERC, said in his foreword to the report that the effects of the restrictions will be monitored carefully over the next few years. Demand management measures were first introduced in 2009. Applicants may only apply for one grant, and cannot reapply for a year after an unsuccessful application.
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