Over €210 million boost for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions to support more researchers in Europe
The additional funding was announced as part of the Commission’s Choose Europe initiative. It will strengthen the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships and Doctoral Networks in 2026 and 2027 to enable more than 700 additional researchers to build their careers in Europe.
Announced on 1 October 2026 at the high-level event marking the 30th anniversary of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the additional funding forms part of the Commission’s broader Choose Europe approach to attracting and retaining research talent.
The top-up comes in response to record demand for opportunities to pursue research careers in Europe. The 2026 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call received 21,627 applications from researchers around the world. This is the highest number ever recorded for the programme and the highest number of proposals received for any funding action in more than 40 years of EU research and innovation framework programmes.
It will allow more researchers to benefit from MSCA opportunities and strengthen Europe’s capacity to attract and retain research talent. With more than €1.3 billion foreseen for the MSCA in 2027, the programme will continue to strengthen Europe’s research base, support the careers of world-class researchers and contribute to its long-term competitiveness.
The announcement follows the Commission’s adoption of the amended Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, which will provide the last MSCA funding opportunities under the current Horizon Europe 2021-27 Framework Programme.
More funding for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships and Doctoral Networks
The additional funding will bring the budgets for both Postdoctoral Fellowships and Doctoral Networks to their highest-ever levels in 2026 and 2027, although demand for both actions is expected to remain considerably higher than the funding available.
For 2026, the budget for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will reach €434 million, while MSCA Doctoral Networks will reach €628 million.
In 2027, the budgets will increase further, reaching €459 million for Postdoctoral Fellowships and €645 million for Doctoral Networks.
The increased funding is expected to support more than 700 additional researchers. Based on current estimates, the 2027 Postdoctoral Fellowships call could support more than 1,800 postdoctoral researchers, while the 2027 Doctoral Networks call could support over 2,000 doctoral candidates.
30 years of curiosity that changes the world
2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). Since their creation in 1996, more than 150,000 researchers have participated in the programme, including 23 Nobel laureates. What began as a programme supporting around 800 researchers each year has grown into one of Europe’s flagship programmes for research careers, now supporting around 8,000 researchers annually.
Over three decades, the MSCA have supported researchers across countries, disciplines and sectors, helping Europe attract international talent, strengthen research careers and create connections between research, innovation and industry. Today, companies account for almost 50% of organisations taking part in the programme, including a growing number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which benefit from access to highly skilled international research talent. In the last five years alone, more than 4,000 companies have participated in MSCA projects.
To mark the anniversary, the Commission has also launched a new interactive publication featuring more than 100 stories from the MSCA community. Through an interactive timeline, a world map and stories covering a wide range of scientific fields, the publication showcases the people, ideas and achievements that have shaped the programme over the past 30 years.
More information
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MSCA 30th anniversary webpage (external link)
A dedicated page structured around the symbolic theme of Radium (in reference to Marie Skłodowska-Curie’s discovery), showcasing stories, milestones and highlights from 30 years of MSCA.
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Get to know MSCA
Learn more about the programme, its objectives and its impact on research careers.
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Video interview with Prof. Dr. Hélène Langevin-Joliot
Granddaughter of Marie Skłodowska-Curie, sharing insights on her legacy and its relevance today.
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Events across Europe and beyond
A selection of events organised by MSCA networks to mark the anniversary.
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Communication toolkit
Ready-to-use visuals, key messages and materials to help partners and stakeholders share and promote the celebrations.
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