Organised into six thematic clusters, the report documents ERC-funded projects that explore pressing issues such as voting behaviour, digital campaigning, trust in political institutions, participatory budgeting, populism, disinformation, while also highlighting the resilience of democratic values and civic engagement. The total funding was €368 million.

'These projects show the vital role once again of purely curiosity-driven, frontier research in shaping our understanding of the world - in this case regarding democracy and the complexities of governance in the 21st century. They couldn’t be more relevant in this significant election year and amidst the challenges that democracies worldwide are facing,' said ERC President Maria Leptin.

In 2024, a historic number of voters globally are expected to participate in national elections, with no fewer than 64 countries, alongside the European Union, collectively representing approximately 49% of the world's population, gearing up for potentially transformative electoral outcomes.

For the ERC this special year is an opportunity to assess the breadth of its supported research on various facets of democracy and to weight their insights and a potential to contribute to shaping EU policies, such as the European Democracy Action Plan and the recent Defence of Democracy package.

The report released today is the latest in a series showing what impact ERC-funded research has beyond science. Earlier reports focussed on sustainable food production and consumption, biodiversity, and key EU policies such as the European Green Deal and the Digital Transition. Rather than offering policy recommendations, these reports aim to provide scientific evidence for decision-makers. It is noteworthy that this research came about without any policy priorities, as ERC grantees are given free rein to follow their scientific curiosity.