Professor Vincent Blok of Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil) has achieved two significant milestones: securing a €540,000 research grant for Erasmus University Rotterdam and being ranked fourth worldwide in philosophy in the 2026 ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholars list, based on research performance over the past five years.
€540,000 grant for ethical and inclusive Digital Twins
The funding has been awarded as part of the European THRIVE project, which aims to develop AI-powered Digital Twins to support more sustainable urban development. These virtual representations of cities will help policymakers make informed decisions about urban planning, energy use and climate goals.
ESPhil will coordinate Erasmus University's contribution, focusing on the ethical, legal and social implications of this emerging technology. Through an ELSA (Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects) Lab in Rotterdam, researchers will actively involve citizens and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of Digital Twins, ensuring that technological innovation is both responsible and inclusive.
The funding will also support the appointment of a postdoctoral researcher. Blok will collaborate with Rebecca Moody (ESSB) and Marcel van Oosterhout (ECDA), bringing together philosophical reflection and interdisciplinary expertise to address the societal challenges associated with digital technologies.
Fourth worldwide in philosophy
Alongside this research achievement, Blok has secured fourth place worldwide in philosophy in the 2026 ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholars ranking, based on scholarly performance over the preceding five years.
The ScholarGPS ranking evaluates researchers according to their scientific productivity (publications), impact (citations) and quality (h-index). Its Highly Ranked Scholars designation recognises researchers whose performance places them within the top 0.05% of their field, discipline or specialty.
In the philosophy ranking, Blok appears alongside internationally renowned scholars such as Luciano Floridi (University of Oxford), Mark Coeckelbergh (University of Vienna) and Jonathan Birch (London School of Economics and Political Science).
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For contact or inquiries please reach out to our Press Officer Eddie Adelmund (adelmund@esphil.eur.nl)
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