A simple blood test to diagnose breast cancer, a forensic device to trace the origin of tropical timber, and artificial veins inspired by marine sponges; these are some of the inventions to be developed by 59 outstanding researchers selected in the latest round of 'Proof of Concept' Grants from the European Research Council (ERC).
Worth up to €150,000 per grant, 'Proof of Concept' funding helps ERC grant holders to bridge the gap between their existing frontier research and its commercial applications. This top-up funding will enable the scientists to cover costs of technical validation, create a start- up to explore business opportunities, or establish intellectual property rights, for example.
