Professor Thomas Tufte, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation who leads REACT – Reimagining Activism, Communication and Trajectories of Participation in the Global South – will receive funding under one of the EU’s most competitive and prestigious research schemes.
Part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, the ERC Advanced Grant gives world-leading researchers the freedom to pursue bold, curiosity-driven ideas that could lead to major scientific and societal breakthroughs.
Speaking about today’s announcement, Prof Tufte said: “I find the project very important at this time and age, investigating how young people across the global south negotiate experiences of uncertainty and exclusion, and act upon them.
“I believe my project has the scope and potential to generate unique insights into and testimonials about the human and democratic condition of young people.”
Over the next five years, REACT will examine how 18-30-year-olds in 20 countries—including in-depth case studies in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, India, and South Africa—respond to rising inequality, unemployment, and socio-economic exclusion.
Professor Aidan McGarry, Dean of Loughborough University London, said: “Professor Tufte’s ERC Advanced Grant will pursue transformative ideas that will shape future societies especially in the Global South.
“This success is a testament to our dedication, excellence, and the collaborative spirit that defines Loughborough University London.”
The project will employ over 20 researchers across the Global South and involve a survey of 12,000 young people alongside in-depth studies in five cities.
By combining communication for social change, cultural studies, urban research, and critical development theory, the project will develop a new interdisciplinary framework—COMPAS (Communication, Participation and Social Change).
Through creative workshops, urban manifestos, and scenario building, REACT aims to amplify youth voices, stimulate cultural exchange, and uncover pathways toward more inclusive societies.
Prof Tufte added: “This project is timely and vital. It will not only produce new knowledge about the lives and aspirations of young people but also co-create imaginative strategies for civic participation and change.”
Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University, said: “This prestigious award from the European Research Council is a clear recognition of the world-leading research taking place at Loughborough.
“Professor Tufte’s REACT project exemplifies the kind of bold, globally engaged scholarship we champion—work that addresses urgent social challenges and gives voice to those too often overlooked.
“We are incredibly proud of this achievement and excited to see the project’s impact unfold.”
The ERC’s latest Advanced Grant round will support 281 researchers across Europe with a total of €721 million in funding.
Welcoming the new grantees, European Commissioner for Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva said: “These ERC grants are our commitment to making Europe the world’s hub for excellent research.
“By supporting projects that have the potential to redefine whole fields, we are not just investing in science but in the future prosperity and resilience of our continent.
“In the next competition rounds, scientists moving to Europe will receive even greater support in setting up their labs and research teams here.
“This is part of our “Choose Europe for Science” initiative, designed to attract and retain the world’s top scientists.”
REACT is scheduled to begin in January 2026.
ENDS