Italy Wins 50 ERC Spots and Builds a Bridge with Brazil

The European Research Council (ERC) announced the winners of the Starting Grant 2026, and Italy had 50 researchers selected, the second-largest national contingent among the 421 awarded across all of Europe. The result, however, exposes a well-known problem in the country: most of these Italian talents no longer work at institutions within Italy itself.

The European Research Council Announcement

The ERC released the list of 421 Starting Grant 2026 winners, with a total budget of €705 million allocated to finance projects by early-career researchers. Italy received 50 grants, totaling €75 million, behind only Germany, which had 84 researchers awarded.

The Starting Grant is one of the ERC's main funding lines, aimed at scientists who recently completed their doctorates and want to establish their own research programs. The selection is considered one of the most competitive in European science, and Italy's performance in the country rankings reinforces the reputation of its researchers — even though most of them are no longer working on Italian soil.

The Paradox of Italian Brain Drain

The most striking fact from the announcement is that, of the 50 Italian researchers awarded, only 22 are affiliated with institutions in Italy itself. The remaining 28 are developing their projects at universities and research centers in other European countries, a direct picture of Italy's historical difficulty in retaining its scientific talent.

The phenomenon, known as "brain drain," is not new in the country, but the result of the 2026 ERC Starting Grant makes the problem measurable: more than half of the awarded Italian scientists built their careers abroad, in countries that offer better salaries, more resources for laboratories, and more streamlined hiring processes in universities.

For those following News from Italy, the data adds to a recurring debate about public investment in science and the ability of Italian universities to compete for researchers with institutions in Germany, France, and Nordic countries.

How the Starting Grant Works

The ERC Starting Grant can reach €1.5 million per researcher, distributed over up to five years, money intended for forming a team and executing the proposed research project. There is also an additional incentive: researchers who decide to relocate to a European Union country or one associated with the program can receive up to €2 million extra, specifically aimed at setting up laboratories and structuring the infrastructure needed for the work.

According to the ERC, the 2026 edition received 4,807 proposals, a 22% increase compared to the previous call, resulting in an approval rate of only 8.8% — reinforcing the highly competitive nature of the funding.

The Bridge with Brazilian Researchers

A little-publicized point is that the ERC does not restrict the nationality of researchers who can join teams funded by the program. The only requirement is that the project be executed in a European Union country or in a State associated with the European research program. In practice, this opens space for Brazilian scientists to participate in winning projects, as long as they are affiliated with an eligible institution.

It was in this context that FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation) and CONFAP (National Council of State Research Support Foundations) launched, in May, a 2026 call aimed at mobility of São Paulo researchers joining teams already funded by the ERC. The initiative provides internships of up to 12 months in European research groups funded by the council, with an application deadline extended until August 10 and results expected starting in October.

The call represents a concrete pathway for international insertion for Brazilian researchers, who now have access to laboratories and teams funded by one of the world's most respected science programs, without depending on direct employment ties with European institutions.

Brazil-Italy Scientific Cooperation

The relationship between Italy and the Brazilian scientific community is not limited to the ERC. FAPESP maintains a cooperation agreement with the CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche), Italy's main public research body, responsible for coordinating institutes and scientific projects in areas ranging from physics to biomedicine.

The agreement between the two institutions was renewed in 2023 and is valid until July 2029, financing joint projects between São Paulo and Italian researchers. The partnership adds to other scientific exchange initiatives between the two countries, which have intensified in recent years, especially given the growing demand from Brazilian researchers — many of them descendants of Italians — for work and training opportunities in Europe.

For Brazilians thinking about settling in Italy through academic or family ties, it is worth noting that the legal pathways for residency in the country are distinct from research procedures: those seeking residence through Italian ancestry should seek updated information about Italian Citizenship, while those moving for other reasons can consult content about Life in Italy to understand daily life, documentation, and adaptation in the country.

Those already evaluating Italian citizenship recognition can count on support from a specialist advisory in Italian citizenship and, when necessary, resort to services for certificate searches in Italy to gather the documentation required in the process.

The 2026 ERC Starting Grant result reinforces the strength of Italian science in the European landscape, but also exposes internal weaknesses that push researchers out of the country. At the same time, it opens a concrete window of opportunity for Brazilian scientists, who now have structured mobility programs to join teams funded by one of the world's largest research councils.

Source: Comunità Italiana