Portugal secures three new European Research Studentships the Proof of Concept category

Portugal has secured three newProof of Concept (PoC) Studentships awarded by the European Research Council (ERC), each worth €150,000. This funding is intended to support outstanding researchers in taking the first steps towards commercializing or applying the results of their cutting-edge research in society.

The projects of researchers affiliated with entities of the National Science and Technology System (SNCT) are part of a set of 150 projects, corresponding to an investment of €22.5 million. With a success rate of approximately 31%, the projects will be developed in 21 European countries.

It should be noted that projects funded under Proof of Concept have the specific objective of transferring knowledge and introducing directionality to fundamental research and the early stages of innovation. As a Call to ERC Grantees (researchers with Studentship ), with active or recently completed projects, it allows ideas funded by the ERC to now embark on a path to the market or to the creation of solutions with a direct impact on society.

The three projects to be developed in Portugal are:

• “A Framework for Auditing Recommendation Engines under the DSA” [FARE_DSA]: led by Joana Gonçalves-Sá, from LIP, this is the second Proof of Concept project associated with the 2019 Starting Grant, focusing on disinformation, fake news, and how the architecture of social networks facilitates their sharing.
• “AI-Enhanced Zebrafish Screening: A Low-Cost Solution for High-Throughput Biomedical Research” [Megabouts]: coordinated by Michael Orger, from the Champalimaud Foundation, related to the recently completed 2017 Consolidator Grant, which sought to unravel the process that transforms what we see into a decision or movement.
• “Porous sensors for real-time monitoring of water quality risks” [PROTEGE]: led by Paulo Rocha, from CFE-University of Coimbra, under the Starting Grant 2020, aims to transform algae into a high-yield energy source.

The next round of applications for Studentships is now open, with a submission deadline of September 18, 2025. With the recent approval of the ERC's 2026 work program, researchers may also have the opportunity to submit proposals in March and September 2026.

During the previous European funding program for research and innovation, Horizon 2020 (2014-2020), 15 projects were funded in Portugal in the context of ERC Proof of Concept. As the second half of Horizon Europe begins, Portugal has reached the milestone of 19 ERC Proof of Concept projects. It should be noted that Paulo Rocha's project is the first of its kind at the University of Coimbra, expanding the universe of institutions benefiting from this funding.

The FCT coordinates national representation and participation in the European Research Council and, as announced at the 1st ERC Portugal Meeting, has been developing a set of programs covering the various cycles of national participation in Calls . Of particular note are ERC-PT , ERC-PT , and ERC-PT .