Bochum researcher wins 2.5 million euros for sustainable consumption

Bochum researcher wins 2.5 million euros for sustainable consumption

A great success for science in North Rhine-Westphalia: Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Hofmann, psychologist at the Institute for Social and Environmental Psychology at the Ruhr University Bochum, was awarded the prestigious Advanced Grant 2024 of the European Research Council. He receives this award for his innovative research project “Sustainable Consumption” (SUSCON), which deals with the structural framework for sustainable consumption. With this, Hofmann shows that science is flourishing not only in big cities, but also in Bochum.

A total of 35 of these coveted grants were awarded to scientists in Germany as part of the EU “Horizon Europe” program, five of which went to researchers from North Rhine-Westphalia alone. A remarkable achievement for the location, which was also recognized by Economics Minister Ina Brandes, who described the award-winning researchers as role models for cutting-edge research in NRW. Such recognitions are of great importance not only for the personalities, but also for the region.

What is the ERC Advanced Grant?

The ERC Advanced Grant is aimed at leading Principal Investigators (PIs) with proven research success. These grants are intended to support researchers who have made exceptional contributions to science. No specific academic requirements are required when submitting the application, which makes the application accessible to many talented scientists.

An important aspect is that there is a “bottom-up” application structure that allows PIs to work in any research area without having to adhere to predetermined priorities. To realize the research projects, the winners will receive up to 2.5 million euros over a period of five years. An additional 1 million euros can be made available for “start-up” costs. Financing can cover up to 100% of eligible direct costs, which is particularly important for emerging projects.

Regional support for research

Support offers such as the Heidelberg Research Service at Heidelberg University help scientists who want to apply for such grants. The service covers all phases of the application, from processing and submission to project implementation. This makes it clear how important it is that institutions support their researchers and offer comprehensive support so that ambitious projects can be realized. Information about ERC grants is also available for anyone else who is interested in ERC grants National contact point ERC available.

With the award from Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Hofmann's focus is not only on his personal success, but also on strengthening research expertise in the region. Investing in cutting-edge research helps to develop innovative solutions that will have significance far beyond the borders of North Rhine-Westphalia. We can't wait to see what new findings and developments will emerge from the “Sustainable Consumption” project!