University of Exeter researchers secured European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants to study artificial intelligence in military decision-making and the role of microbiomes in health. The projects are part of an €838 million Horizon Europe funding round distributed to 319 scientists across the continent.
AI in military decision-making
Professor Anthony King will examine how armed forces used artificial intelligence over the past decade and how they plan to deploy it in the future. His research relies on military archives, interviews, and fieldwork at military headquarters to help EU policymakers understand the technology's actual capabilities. This work provides factual context for leaders exploring AI for Government and defense applications.
King aims to separate fact from fiction regarding autonomous weapons. "Many experts and policy makers are disturbed by the military application of AI and fear it will replace human commanders and take over military decision-making," he said. "I want to test my theory that AI will influence - but not automate - military decision making."
Microbiome composition
Professor Angus Buckling will investigate how bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, affect the composition of microbiomes. These microbiomes consist of naturally occurring communities of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes. The research seeks to map how these viral interactions influence human, animal, and environmental health outcomes.
ERC funding scope
The ERC Advanced Grants support senior researchers pursuing curiosity-driven projects. The €838 million pot funds 319 leading researchers of 33 different nationalities.
"The new Advanced Grant projects demonstrate the creativity, ambition, and intellectual boldness that frontier research requires," ERC President Professor Maria Leptin said. "We need to step up investment for Europe to lead in science and innovation."
Why this matters for science and research professionals
The distribution of Horizon Europe funds highlights a sustained EU commitment to funding foundational, curiosity-driven research rather than just applied commercial technology. For scientists, this signals ongoing availability of large-scale grants for high-risk, high-reward projects, emphasizing the need for continuous training in areas like AI for Science & Research to handle increasingly large datasets.
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