European Research Council Awards 300 Young Researchers €290 million. (December 21, 2007)

 The journal  Science reports:

The fledgling European Research Council has selected 300 applicants to receive its first set of grants, aimed at those in their first decade of independent research. Chosen from more than 9000 applications, the winners represent 32 nationalities working in 21 countries and will receive total funding of approximately €290 million (A$483 million). The United Kingdom will host the most awardees with more than 50 planning to work there. Martin Bergö of Göteborg University in Sweden, who was awarded €1.7 million (A$2.8 million) to study the proteins involved in cancer and premature aging, says the application process was "absolutely flawless" and devoid of the infamous European Union bureaucracy. The application process for the second round of grants is now under way.