Commission invests €1.25 billion in researchers and invites them to ‘Choose Europe for Science’

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) will support cutting edge research and focus on developing research talent, fostering international collaboration, and connecting science with society. 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.

The Commission will dedicate €597.8 million in research careers with the MSCA Doctoral Networks (28 May-25 November), which will help recruit and train doctoral candidates in academia and other sectors. An additional €10 million will support displaced Ukrainian researchers through the MSCA4Ukraine. In June, another call will bring science closer to the public through the MSCA & Citizens initiative. This complements three calls already opened: MSCA COFUND (€105.6 million, closes 24 June), the MSCA Staff Exchanges (€97.7 million, closes 8 October) and the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (€404.3 million, closes 10 September 2025), supporting research talents across Europe.

Later this year, the Commission will launch its ‘Choose Europe for Science’ pilot, to strengthen research careers in Europe by funding postdoctoral programmes that go beyond project-based work. With a budget of €22.5 million in 2025, 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, and foster research excellence.

Source: European Commission