Technion Researchers Awarded ERC PoC Grants

Each grant, valued at €150,000, aims to help researchers transition their groundbreaking discoveries towards practical applications and early commercialization phases.

Prof. Shulamit Levenberg. Photo credit: Revital Tubul

Prof. Levenberg was awarded the PoC grant for her work on bioactive reinforcing bioink for hybrid bioprinting of implantable bone. “BioForceInk” is a novel bioink designed for 3D bioprinting that can be printed at room temperature and solidifies at body temperature, creating strong, porous scaffolds for bone implants. Enhanced with factors promoting bone and blood vessel growth, BioForceInk aims to improve bone healing and integration. This project will develop and test these bioprinted implants for bone regeneration, collaborating with industry partners for commercialization. BioForceInk’s combination of mechanical strength and biological activity has the potential to advance clinical bioprinting and could be adapted for various tissue types.

Prof. Amit Meller

Prof. Meller was awarded the PoC grant for his work on fingerprinting single protein molecules for biomarker assisted precision medicine. The SMProTrack project aims to develop a groundbreaking single-molecule protein sensing method using silicon nano-channels and AI algorithms to achieve unmatched accuracy and detail. This low-cost, portable technology can detect multiple proteins from tiny samples. Focusing on diagnosing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) via liquid biopsy, the project will validate its effectiveness with clinical samples. SMProTrack seeks to provide a cost-effective, highly sensitive tool for rapid and accurate protein detection, with potential applications in various liquid biopsy diagnostics.

Iliana Ivanova, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth, highlighted the impact of these grants since their inception in 2011, noting that they have received more than €300 million in funding. She emphasized that Horizon Europe funding has enabled researchers to advance from pioneering research to innovation. Prof. Maria Leptin, President of the ERC, congratulated the winners and emphasized the importance of investing in curiosity-driven research to maintain Europe’s leadership in innovation.

In this funding round, the UK led with 15 projects, followed by the Netherlands (14), Italy (12), France, Germany, and Spain (10 each), Israel (7), Belgium (5), Austria, Denmark, and Sweden (3 each), Finland and Ireland (2 each), and finally, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, and Turkey (1 each).

The Proof-of-Concept grant scheme is exclusively available to researchers who currently hold or have previously been awarded ERC frontier research grants. These grants help researchers explore the commercial or societal potential of their discoveries. The ERC’s 2024 work program included two calls for Proof-of-Concept grants with a total budget of €30 million, funded by Horizon Europe.

About the ERC

Established by the European Union in 2007, the ERC is a leading funding organization for frontier research in Europe. It supports innovative researchers of all nationalities and ages to conduct projects across Europe. The ERC offers four main grant schemes: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants, and Synergy Grants, along with the Proof-of-Concept Grant scheme.