Important success factors for researchers have been identified

Are there any common denominators that characterise successful researchers? To find this out, the Swedish Research Council looked at the careers of researchers in Sweden who were awarded consolidation grants from the European Research Council (ERC) in fierce competition during 2012–2023. We analysed what characterises them and their preconditions from the time they were awarded their doctoral degrees up to receiving the grants from the ERC 7–12 years later.

The results show that there are some key factors that characterise this group of successful researchers. The most prominent ones are that they have

• been internationally mobile to a large extent
• had access to funding for undirected researcher-initiated research
• had plenty of research time
• been working in prominent and supportive research environments
• had opportunities to develop their own lines of research.

“We noted that most had worked as researchers in several countries, and in this way had built up strong international networks. Around half of them have doctoral degrees from countries other than Sweden,” says Maud Quist, Analyst at the Swedish Research Council.

Most had also worked in prominent, inspiring, and creative research environments early on during their careers, with good role models and colleagues. They had also had access to undirected funding for research, plenty of time to conduct research, and good opportunities to develop their own lines of research.

“All of these are also factors that the researchers themselves consider to be important for their suceess, and several of the respondents also mention the importance of more personal characteristics, such as perseverance and curiosity”, Maud Quist adds.