Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA): funding for researchers, training and international cooperation

Universities, research organisations, companies, public institutions and other organisations can participate in projects. Support is also available for cooperation between academia and industry.

What the MSCA programme supports

MSCA focuses primarily on developing people in research.

Funding can be used, for example, for:

• employing doctoral and postdoctoral researchers,
• international mobility of researchers,
• staff exchanges between organisations,
• professional training and the development of research skills,
• cooperation among universities, research organisations and companies,
• creating international doctoral programmes,
• gaining experience outside academia,
• building an organisation’s own doctoral and postdoctoral programmes,
• science outreach and bringing research closer to the public.

The programme is not restricted to specific topics. Applicants choose their project topic according to their own research focus.

What opportunities MSCA offers

1. Doctoral Networks – currently open

MSCA Doctoral Networks support international doctoral programmes established by consortia of universities, research organisations, companies and other partners.

Funding can be used primarily for recruiting and training doctoral candidates, their salaries and mobility, research activities, training and joint activities of the participating organisations.

There are three main types:

• Standard Doctoral Networks – international doctoral programmes based on cooperation among several organisations.
• Industrial Doctorates – doctoral candidates gain experience in both academic and business environments. They spend at least half of their time outside academia.
• Joint Doctorates – joint doctoral programmes involving several institutions and leading to a joint or multiple doctoral degree.

Companies seeking access to young researchers and wishing to connect their own R&D with academia may also participate in a consortium.

Application period: 28 May–24 November 2026.

Call budget: EUR 593.03 million.

2. Postdoctoral Fellowships

Postdoctoral Fellowships support experienced researchers with a doctoral degree who want to carry out a research project in another country, gain new experience and develop their careers.

There are two main options:

• European Postdoctoral Fellowships – for researchers of any nationality moving to an EU Member State or a country associated with Horizon Europe.
• Global Postdoctoral Fellowships – for European researchers who spend part of the project in a third country and then return to Europe.

The host can be a university, research organisation, company or another eligible organisation.

3. Staff Exchanges – coming soon

Staff Exchanges support short-term international and interdisciplinary exchanges of staff between organisations involved in a joint research or innovation project.

Participants may include, for example:

• researchers,
• technicians,
• project staff,
• administrative and managerial staff involved in research and innovation.

The aim of the programme is to transfer knowledge across countries and between academia and industry.

After completing the mobility period, staff members return to their home organisation and continue to use the experience gained in the project.

Application period: 15 December 2026–15 April 2027.

4. COFUND – under preparation

MSCA COFUND helps organisations create or expand their own doctoral and postdoctoral programmes.

COFUND is particularly suitable for organisations that want to recruit international researchers systematically and establish a long-term development programme for them.

Application period: 8 December 2026–6 April 2027.

5. MSCA and Citizens – under preparation

MSCA and Citizens supports science outreach and connects researchers with the public.

Its best-known activity is European Researchers’ Night.

Funding may cover, for example:

• public science events,
• workshops,
• educational programmes,
• activities for schools,
• communicating research to the public.

Application period: 9 March–8 June 2027.

6. Choose Europe for Science – under preparation

This newer MSCA instrument enables European organisations to offer experienced researchers attractive, longer-term employment conditions.

Its aim is to attract and retain top researchers in Europe and strengthen the competitiveness of European research institutions.

Application period: 8 December 2026–6 April 2027.

Who can apply

MSCA is open to both academic and non-academic organisations.

Participants may include, for example:

• universities,
• public and private research organisations,
• small, medium-sized and large companies,
• research infrastructures,
• cities, regions and other public institutions,
• hospitals and healthcare providers,
• non-profit organisations,
• other organisations involved in research and innovation.

Specific consortium composition requirements vary by call.

How much funding is available

MSCA does not set a single fixed maximum amount per project.

The amount of funding depends mainly on:

• the type of instrument,
• the number of researchers involved,
• the duration of their employment or mobility,
• the number of staff-months spent on secondment,
• the size of the research or training programme.

The European Union funds projects through predefined unit contributions or lump sums.

Mobility requirement

• International mobility is one of the fundamental principles of MSCA.
• As a rule, researchers must not have lived or worked in the host organisation’s country for an extended period before joining the project.

Who MSCA is suitable for

MSCA is particularly suitable for organisations that want to:

• recruit high-quality international researchers,
• build an international research team,
• create a joint doctoral programme,
• connect corporate R&D with academic institutions,
• offer employees experience abroad,
• transfer knowledge between academia and industry,
• make the organisation more attractive to international researchers.

For companies, MSCA can be particularly attractive through Industrial Doctorates, Staff Exchanges or participation as a host organisation for a postdoctoral researcher.

Would you like to involve your organisation in MSCA?

Choosing the right instrument depends on whether you want to employ a specific researcher, create a doctoral programme, send staff abroad or join a broader international consortium.

We will assess your plans, recommend a suitable call and help you prepare both the project and the application.