European Commission allocates €210m for research careers

The European Commission has allocated more than €210 million in additional funding to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme. This investment aims to support over 700 researchers in building their careers within Europe.

The funding is part of the ‘Choose Europe’ initiative, which seeks to establish the EU as a global hub for scientific talent, research, and technological innovation. The decision responds to a record-breaking demand for research opportunities; the 2026 call for MSCA postdoctoral fellowships received 21,627 applications, the highest number in over 40 years of EU research programs.

The additional resources will specifically bolster MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships and Doctoral Networks. Under the amended Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, the 2027 budget for Postdoctoral Fellowships is expected to reach €459 million, while the budget for Doctoral Networks is projected to rise to €645 million.