Miracles of the microbiome – matching innovators with investors – ERC Director departs – research showcased in museums
26-08-2019
European Research Council Magazine

ERC Magazine August 2019

This month we have science exhibitions in museums, reflections on the departure of ERC Director Pablo Amor, a look at what kind of research can move to market and how scientists can meet investors to help them get there, and an introduction to microbiomes.

Museums with a view. On frontier research
By definition, frontier research takes place at the very edges of human knowledge, and its intrinsically risky, avant-garde nature may ward off the uninitiated. Yet, passageways into the lands of cutting-edge science can be found in much less intimidating places than labs or research centres: museums.

Thoughts on departure of ERC Director Pablo Amor

Pablo Amor, the first and longtime Director of the ERC is due to retire at the end of July. Before he left he gave us an insight into his career and what it is like managing such a singular Executive Agency.


Where ERC-funded researchers meet investors
Research results can be revolutionary and potentially highly rewarding to the researcher, but facilitating the transfer of knowledge gained from research to the wider world can be difficult. In order to help researchers locate finance and support for this transfer, the ERC has set up a Virtual Venture Fair to ease connections between ERC funded scientists and possible investors.

Second round winners in 2019 - Proof of Concept call
The Proof of Concept grant scheme has reached a milestone - the 1000th project has been approved for funding since the scheme started in 2011. The winning project, to covert underwater communication cables for use in earthquake detectionThree other examples include a project to help test children for synaesthesia, another to automate bug removal from computer networks and a third to design personalised doses of medication.

Microbiomes: getting the big picture on microorganisms
Bacteria, fungi, viruses… we associate them with nasty health conditions and incurable diseases. However as part of greater microbiome environments, they can play a crucial role in keeping humans and our planet healthy.
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