Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme: €100 million to support around 1,200 researchers in Europe

The Commission announced today that the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) will support – with up to €100 million over five years – 19 doctoral and 24 post-doctoral researcher training programmes of outstanding quality from 11 EU Member States and 3 associated countries. The countries with the most projects selected are Spain, France and Ireland. These programmes will foster the high-quality training, supervision and career development of almost 1,200 excellent scientists carrying out their research in a wide range of disciplines, from health to computer science, advanced manufacturing, energy, rural development or prehistory. They will be supported by the MSCA-COFUND action, which provides co-funding for regional, national and international programmes. Vice-President Margaritas Schinas, responsible for Promoting our European Way of Life, commented: “Researchers take excellence, academic freedom and ethics to the next level in Europe and around the world. With a targeted €100 million additional support, we offer them today new opportunities to tackle some of the pressing issues in promoting our European Way of Life. Europe needs the best talents in research to fight pandemics, enhance its security, promote sustainable living, a fair and safe digital space, and democratic, inclusive, cohesive societies.  Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, said: “I congratulate the beneficiaries who have been awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND grant after intense competition. Several of their programmes will focus on solutions to global challenges such as immunology, health crises or sustainability. Other programmes will cover areas relevant to future priorities such as food, oceans or smart cities. I am glad to see more European Universities supported by Erasmus+ applying for and succeeding in these calls. I am also delighted to see an increasing number of European regions leading or supporting projects that aim to boost their competitiveness by attracting talented researchers.” This was the last MSCA-COFUND call under the Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation, with the highest budget ever. Under Horizon Europe, the MSCA will continue supporting regional, national and international programmes through MSCA-COFUND. More details on the co-funding of regional, national and international programme are available online.