The Commission is investing around €400 million in postdoctoral researchers

The European Commission has launched the 2026 call for applicationsfor Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowships, with a budget of €399.05 million. These fellowships support researchers who have completed a PhD to carry out their research abroad and acquire new skills in different disciplines and sectors. Researchers will benefit from working with cutting-edge scientific teams and contributing to the EU’s competitiveness through their cutting-edge research. The application window is open from today and will close on 9 September 2026.

Since their inception in 1996, more than 150,000 researchershave participated in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, including 23 Nobel laureates, highlighting their long-standing contribution to scientific excellence and international cooperation.

This call forms part of the more than €1.25 billion allocated to the MSCA in 2026 under Horizon Europe 2021–2027 to foster excellence in research, as highlighted in the ‘Choose Europe’ initiative. Through this funding, the MSCA will continue to support research via doctoral and postdoctoral programmes, research grants and collaborative research and innovation projects.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said:“Europe’s future is built on knowledge, discovery and talent. For 30 years, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions have empowered researchers to push the boundaries of science and turn ideas into progress for society. Today we renew that commitment. To researchers around the world, our message is clear: bring your ambition, bring your talent: Europe is the place for you to innovate and thrive.”

Building on the programme’s legacy, the anniversary will be celebrated throughout 2026 under the theme ‘30 years ofcuriosity that changes theworld’, highlighting the programme’s achievements and its impact on research careers. Stories, milestones and highlights are already featured ona dedicated anniversary website, alongside contributions from the MSCA community, includingan interview with Prof. Dr Hélène Langevin-Joliot, granddaughter of Marie Skłodowska-Curie, amongst other activities.

Investing in the training and professional development of researchers.

In addition to the call for MSCA postdoctoral fellowships, the Commission will launch two further MSCA calls later in 2026 to support the training of researchers and strengthen research careers in Europe:

• MSCA Doctoral Networks(28 May – 24 November 2026): €593.03 millionto attract and train doctoral candidates in academia and other sectors, such as industry, business and public administration. The programme also includes joint PhDs and industrial PhDs, equipping researchers with a broad set of transferable skills and improving their career prospects.
• MSCA Choose Europe for Science(8 December 2026 – 6 April 2027): €51.25 million to enhance the attractiveness of European research careers by tackling precariousness and offering excellent working conditions, transforming the brain drain in the research and innovation sector into a talent gain. It will support projects in which academic and non-academic organisations recruit and co-fund postdoctoral researchers with the prospect of employment beyond the project period. This upcoming call builds on the 2025 pilot action, the results of which will be published in the coming weeks.

 Two other MSCA 2026 calls were already launched at the end of last year:

• MSCA Staff Exchanges(deadline 16 April 2026): €97.92 million to fund collaborative research and innovation projects, fostering international, cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary exchanges and knowledge sharing at all stages of the innovation chain.
• MSCA COFUND(deadline 8 April 2026): €105.46 million to help organisations establish or improve their own doctoral training programmes and postdoctoral fellowships. The aim is to attract and retain talented researchers, developing their skills and advancing their professional careers.

Fund

From their beginnings as European research grants in the 1990s to their pivotal role in shaping today’s research careers, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions have become the European Union’s flagship programme for the training, mobility and professional development of researchers, open to all disciplines and sectors. It attracts global talent, strengthens links with industry and non-academic stakeholders, and contributes to a more integrated European Research Area.

More information: European Commission.