Race is on for EU’s €1 billion science prize

Some call it Europe’s Got Talent for geeks. Teams of scientists from across the continent are vying for a funding bonanza that could see two of them receive up to €1 billion over 10 years to keep Europe at the cutting edge of technology.

The contest began with 26 proposals that were whittled down to six last year. Four have made it to the final round.

They include a plan to develop digital guardian angels that would keep people safe from harm; a massive data-crunching machine to simulate social, economic and technological change on our planet; an effort to craft the most accurate computer model of the human brain to date; and a team working to find better ways to produce and employ graphene — an ultra-thin material that could revolutionise manufacturing of everything from airplanes to computer chips.