Commission invests €1.25 billion in researchers

Europe is stepping up its ambition to cement the position of a global leader in research. New calls worth over €1.25 billion in 2025 under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) open doors for new talents. The funding will support cutting edge research and focus on developing research talent, fostering international collaboration, and connecting science with society, with targeted support for early career researchers and displaced Ukrainian scientists.

In her recent speech at La Sorbonne, President von der Leyen underscored Europe’s ambition to be “remain a continent where scientific freedom is protected, where research talent is nurtured, and where innovation can flourish”. The new funding round puts that vision into action, with a continued emphasis on building research capacity across Europe through MSCA’s core programmes. It also introduces the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ pilot, which will position Europe as a leading destination for researchers by offering excellent working conditions and strong career prospects.

Investing in research careers and global collaboration

 The Commission is announcing two new calls of funding that will open later this year:

• The MSCA Doctoral Networks (€597.8 million, 28 May-25 November): recruit and train doctoral candidates in academia and other sectors, including industry, businesses, and public administrations. The scheme also includes specialised Joint Doctorates Networks and Industrial Doctorates Networks.

• The MSCA & Citizens (€16.3 million, 17 June-22 October): brings science closer to the public with the European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools activities, showcasing impact of research on citizens’ daily life.

MSCA will also dedicate an additional €10 million to support displaced Ukrainian researchers through the MSCA4Ukraine fellowship scheme.

Supporting research talent across Europe

This complements three calls that have already opened this year:

• The MSCA COFUND (€105.6 million, closes 24 June): helps organisations create or enhance their own doctoral training and postdoctoral fellowship programmes. The aim is to attract and recruit talented researchers, developing their skills and advancing their careers.
• The MSCA Staff Exchanges (€97.7 million, closes 8 October): funds R&I collaborative projects, fostering international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary exchanges and knowledge sharing at all stages of the innovation chain.
• The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (€404.3 million, closes 10 September 2025): helps experienced researchers acquire new skills, develop their careers and gain international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral experience by working abroad.

‘Choose Europe for Science’ supports researchers with long-term prospects

With a budget of €22.5 million in 2025, the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ pilot aims to strengthen research careers in Europe by funding postdoctoral programmes that go beyond project-based work. Organisations will receive funding for up to 36 months, followed by a two-year phase funded by the host institution. The goal is to create more stable career pathways for early career researchers, reduce precarity, and align research roles with long-term institutional strategies.

Programmes are open to researchers from across the world, reinforcing Europe’s ambition to attract and retain top talent while embedding research excellence into local R&I ecosystems.

Potential applicants can look out for relevant info sessions in the lead up to the call, which will open on 1 October.

Background

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is a cornerstone of the European Research Area, fostering researchers’ careers and transversal skills development across borders. For the period 2021-2027, the MSCA has budget of over €6.6 billion. The 2025 calls follow the adoption of the revised 2023-2025 Horizon Europe Work Programme this week.

‘Choose Europe for Science’ is part of the actions under the Union of Skills to attract, develop, and keep top talent, which is crucial for innovation, growth, and competitiveness.

More information: European Commission