Brussels – 5th September 2025
For a total of €7.5 million in European funding, five projects based in Tuscan institutions or led by Tuscan researchers have been awarded the prestigious ERC Starting Grants 2025, one of the most competitive and internationally renowned funding schemes of the European Research Council.
From the secrets of Renaissance masterpieces to the engines of the future and innovative vaccines against emerging viruses: Tuscany once again confirms its role at the forefront of European research.
Among the winners:
- Alberto Privitera, University of Florence, with the project LIGHT-QIS on light-driven molecular spin qubits, paving the way for next-generation quantum technologies.
- Vittorio Giannetti, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, with the project PHOENIX dedicated to the design of high-performance orbital engines with innovative acceleration models, opening new frontiers for space exploration.
- Francesca Di Turo, Scuola Normale Superiore, with the project SHADES, which will develop predictive tools to study the fading of colours in artworks, helping preserve Europe’s cultural heritage.
- Emanuele Andreano, Toscana Life Sciences Foundation, with the project PROTECTIVE focused on new therapeutics and vaccines against poxviruses, enhancing Europe’s preparedness against future health emergencies.
- Antonina Chaban, CNR – Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (National Institute of Optics – Florence), with the project HeRiDe, which will revolutionize the conservation of frescoes through advanced optical techniques, allowing experts to identify and prevent damage hidden beneath painted surfaces.
Each ERC Starting Grant provides up to €1.5 million in funding over five years, giving young researchers the resources to build their own teams and pursue ambitious, high-risk/high-gain projects. These awards demonstrate the breadth and excellence of research carried out in Tuscany, spanning quantum physics, aerospace engineering, cultural heritage, and biomedical innovation.
“Each of these grants is a success not only for the individual researchers but for the entire Tuscan academic and scientific community. It is a source of great pride and honour for our universities to see their talents compete and win at the highest European level,” said Robert Burmanjer, recently appointed as President of TOUR4EU, the Tuscan association of universities in Brussels. “The results prove that Tuscany is an ecosystem capable of nurturing cutting-edge ideas and transforming them into projects with global impact.”
The European Research Council Starting Grants are reserved for outstanding researchers with two to seven years of experience since completing their PhD, and they represent a springboard toward scientific leadership. The results achieved by Tuscan institutions confirm the region’s growing ability to compete internationally in highly selective programs.
For Tuscany, this recognition is not only a scientific milestone but also a strategic investment in innovation, culture, and health, strengthening the region’s reputation as a hub of excellence in Europe.
