MSCA Staff Exchanges 2026 call receives 416 proposals
The call will fund collaborative research projects and support groundbreaking research through international and intersectoral staff exchanges.
The sixth Staff Exchanges call of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions funded under Horizon Europe closed on 16 April 2026.
The European Research Executive Agency received 416 proposals. Applicants requested a total budget close to €482.4 million. By comparison, 363 proposals were submitted in 2025 and 81 were eventually selected for funding.
Through this call, the European Union is expected to fund between 80 and 90 projects with an indicative budget of around €97.9 million.
Proposals submitted include the participation of 3052 different organisations in 152 countries, out of which around 13% are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Proposals are coordinated by organisations in 29 countries.
Supporting collaborative projects through exchanges
The Staff Exchanges scheme funds short-term international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities of participating organisations. Selected organisations will establish international research partnerships with leading institutions in the EU and beyond including the academic and non-academic sectors in particular small and medium-sized enterprises.
Exchanged staff benefit from new knowledge, skills and career development perspectives, while participating organisations increase their research and innovation capacities.
Indicative timeline
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April 2026 to June 2026
Evaluation by the European Research Executive Agency and external independent expert evaluators
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July 2026
Notification of call results to applicants
- Applicants will be able to access the results of the evaluation on their personal space of the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal
- An overview of the evaluation results, cut-off scores and statistics will be published on the page of the Staff Exchanges 2026 call
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September - December 2026
Expected signature of the grant agreement with the European Commission for successful projects
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January 2027
First EU-funded projects start
Did you know about the 30th anniversary of MSCA?
This year marks a key milestone: the 30th anniversary of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
For three decades the programme has played a crucial role in advancing research and innovation, supporting over 150,000 researchers, including 23 Nobel Prize winners.
The programme has been a cornerstone of European research and a beacon of excellence, fostering mobility across disciplines, sectors, and countries and attracting and nurturing top talent.
2026 is a moment to reflect on what has been achieved, and to look ahead to what comes next.
Explore the activities marking 30 years of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
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.
Learn more about the programme, its objectives and its impact on research careers.
Granddaughter of Marie Skłodowska-Curie, sharing insights on her legacy and its relevance today.
A selection of events organised by MSCA networks to mark the anniversary.
Ready-to-use visuals, key messages and materials to help partners and stakeholders share and promote the celebrations.
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