The European Research Council has just published the list of new advanced research projects that it will be funding over the forthcoming five years. It is one of the prestigious ERC Advanced Grants each providing 2.5 million euros, which are awarded to research projects offering great potential and which may involve significant advances and offer solutions for some of today’s major challenges. The leader of CIC biomaGUNE’s Carbon Biotechnology group, the Ikerbasque Professor and AXA Chair Maurizio Prato, is one of the scientists set to receive one of these grants, which are awarded to develop the most creative ideas, as well as projects that are playing a decisive role in driving forward all knowledge domains. This is the second Advanced Grant awarded to Prato in the course of his research career.