55 researchers each awarded €150,000 ERC grants The Proof of Concept grants will enable researchers to explore the commercial or societal potential of their work. The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded 55 researchers with Proof of Concept grants worth €150,000 each. Projects by these researchers include a new low-cost test for Covid-19, a way to help develop new medicines to treat blindness, and further improvements to a clean energy producing technology. The latest funding announcement, totalling €8.25m, brings the total number of ERC Proof of Concept grants in 2020 to 166, with funding going to researchers working in 21 different countries. Mariya Gabriel, European commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, said the grants demonstrate how frontier research results can be used to benefit society and industry.