Professor Jin-Chong Tan awarded ERC Proof of Concept Grant

This highly competitive funding awarded to just 150 projects in the first round supports researchers in taking their cutting-edge ideas from laboratory to market. Each €150,000 grant is designed to bridge the gap between frontier research and early commercial or societal application.

Prof Jin-Chong Tan is Professor of Engineering Science (Nanoscale Engineering) and Tutorial Fellow at Balliol College. His award builds on his previous ERC-funded work (ERC Consolidator Grant: PROMOFS) and recognises the innovative potential of his research to generate practical solutions with wide-reaching impact.

His project, titled "Resilient Temperature- and Pressure-Sensitive Paints for Hyperspectral Imaging", aims to develop non-invasive smart coating systems capable of simultaneously mapping temperature and pressure across surfaces in real time. Building on his group’s expertise in multifunctional nanocomposites and optical sensing, the project will create durable, high-resolution paints for use in extreme environments such as aerospace, thermo-mechanical and sustainable energy systems where traditional sensors are often impractical.

The ERC’s Proof of Concept scheme is part of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme. This year’s successful applicants span 21 countries and fields ranging from environmental technology to artificial intelligence and energy systems.

Speaking about the award, Professor Tan said: “I’m thrilled to receive this ERC Proof of Concept Grant. It provides a valuable opportunity to take our scientific discoveries closer to real-world application. With input from the Oxford University Innovation (OUI) and 2 industrial partners (Living Optics Ltd and Deben Ltd), this grant will help us develop revolutionary technologies that can translate fundamental materials research into tangible benefits for the society.”

This latest achievement further highlights the department’s role at the forefront of engineering innovation, combining deep scientific exploration with strong translational potential.

Read the full ERC awards news here: https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/proof-of-concept-grants-2025