Researchers based in the UK have benefited more than researchers in any other country in the European Union in a round of starting grants for researchers awarded by the European Union’s European Research Council (ERC).

Close to 20 per cent of the grants, which are aimed at researchers between two and nine years after their doctorate, were awarded to researchers at UK institutions. France won the second highest number of grants for its researchers with about 13 per cent of the awards.

Around 300 grants were awarded and are worth up to €2m per grant spread over up to 5 years.

Germany had an 11 per cent share, The Netherlands had just over eight per cent and after that came Italy and Spain with about eight per cent.

It is the first time the awards have been made and next year a round of awards for more advanced researchers will be allocated. In all, the ERC’s budget will see around €6bn given out in grants and if researchers in UK institutions can consistently win around 20 per cent of the funding allocated it would mean some €1.2bn for UK-based researchers.

By nationality, British researchers received the fourth highest number of grants, Germany the first, then Italy and France. This confirms that many of Europe’s top researchers who are not British choose to do their research at UK universities.

Next year the ERC will announce the actual winners of the grants.