Published: 1 Oct 2025

€22.5 million Choose Europe for Science call offers researchers long-term careers in Europe

The new initiative is designed to make research careers in Europe more attractive by offering excellent working conditions and long-term prospects.

Visual of Choose Europe for Science - gate, firefly

The 2025 call for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Choose Europe for Science is open as of 1 October 2025.

With an indicative budget of €22.5 million, this pilot scheme aims to make European research careers more appealing by providing stable employment and high-quality working conditions.

It addresses precarity in the research sector, helping Europe retain talent within its borders and attract top researchers from around the world.

The call is open to applications in any scientific field, demonstrating the MSCA’s commitment to excellence and innovation across disciplines.

A new approach to research careers

The Choose Europe for Science call tests a new model in the MSCA. Host organisations will not only receive EU funding to employ postdoctoral researchers but also commit to hiring them beyond the EU-funded phase of the project. They will also provide concrete long-term prospects following the fellowship, ensuring more stable career pathways. Besides this, the scheme will spread MSCA best practices for high-quality recruitment, training and working conditions across participating institutions.

Key features of the call

The call is open to a single entity based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, with the option to include Associated Partners.

Each beneficiary may receive up to €3.5 million. Projects must recruit at least 3 postdoctoral researchers for a period of up to 5 years. The MSCA will co-fund the first 2 or 3 years, depending on the host institution’s choice, while the host organisations are expected to continue employment for an additional 2 years.

Organisations applying to the call must demonstrate their commitment to long-term employment of researchers beyond the EU-funded period. Host institutions can include universities, research institutions or facilities, companies including SMEs, government or public institutions, museums, hospitals, NGOs, or any other eligible entity based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted by organisations via the EU Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal by 3 December 2025, 17.00 CET.

Information session

Institutions interested in applying are encouraged to register and attend the upcoming Information Session on 9 October 2025 (14:00 – 16:30 CEST), which will provide an overview of the call, practical guidance on submitting proposals, and advice for staff supporting applications, such as RI office personnel and National Contact Points.

Opportunities for researchers

The first positions funded under this call are expected to be published on EURAXESS in the second half of 2026. Researchers will then be able to apply directly to participating institutions and access practical information on working in Europe, including visas, pensions and taxation.