Apply for Funding with
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Europe’s Leading Programme for Research Excellence, Mobility & Societal Impact
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is part of the "Excellent Science" pillar of Horizon Europe and EU’s flagship programme for fostering research excellence, international mobility, and interdisciplinary collaboration. MSCA funds projects that transform science and its interaction with society, supporting both organisations and researchers at all career stages. The programme also has a structural impact on European research institutions and systems.
Why Choose MSCA?
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) stand out for their strong international dimension, as all schemes promote cross-border mobility and global collaboration. Open to all sectors, the programme welcomes applications from universities, research centres, companies (including SMEs), and both public and private organisations.
With flexible and competitive funding covering staff costs, research, training, and mobility, MSCA not only drives scientific excellence but also delivers real societal impact by promoting collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation across Europe.
Flexible and competitive funding covers staff costs, research, training, mobility, and networking with models tailored to the specific action. Beyond advancing research, MSCA ensures a clear societal impact by encouraging science communication, talent development, and alignment with Europe’s innovation priorities, while actively promoting gender equality, inclusion, and diversity.
Applicants also benefit from dedicated guidance and partner search tools and national contact points to build successful proposals.
Upcoming MSCA Calls: 3 Key Funding Opportunities
MSCA Staff Exchanges 2025
The MSCA Staff Exchanges 2025 scheme is designed to support partnerships between organisations from both academic and non-academic sectors, including SMEs, across the world.
The main objective is to promote the mobility of research and innovation staff, enabling knowledge transfer and strengthening sustainable cooperation.
What does the grant support?
Staff mobility: The scheme funds secondments of research and innovation staff, allowing them to work at partner organisations for defined periods. These secondments must be essential for the joint research and innovation project and contribute directly to its objectives.
Collaboration and skills development: Projects should leverage complementary expertise and create synergies among participating organisations. Staff members benefit from opportunities to acquire new skills and advance their careers, with appropriate mentoring provided by host organisations.
Networking and knowledge sharing: Supported activities may include workshops, conferences, and other events that facilitate knowledge exchange and the testing of innovative approaches.
Call deadline: 8 October 2025.
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2025
The MSCA Doctoral Networks 2025 scheme supports partnerships of universities, research institutions, businesses (including SMEs), and other socio-economic actors from different countries across Europe and beyond. The main objective is to implement doctoral programmes that train highly skilled doctoral candidates, stimulate creativity, and enhance innovation capacities.
What does the grant support?
Doctoral training: Funding is provided for doctoral programmes that expose researchers to both academic and non-academic sectors and offer training in research-related and transferable skills relevant for innovation and long-term employability.
International and intersectoral collaboration: Projects encourage strategic partnerships and mobility, allowing organisations from third countries to participate and fostering global cooperation.
Open, transparent recruitment: Doctoral candidates are selected through open, merit-based procedures, with vacancies widely advertised internationally.
Programme types: Support is available for standard Doctoral Networks, as well as Industrial Doctorates (joint supervision by academic and non-academic partners) and Joint Doctorates (integrated programmes leading to joint or multiple degrees).
Call deadline: 25 November 2025.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025
This scheme enhances the creative and innovative potential of PhD researchers through advanced training and international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral mobility. It is open to excellent researchers of any nationality and supports both European and Global mobility. Types of fellowships:
European Postdoctoral Fellowships: Open to researchers of any nationality to undertake a project in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country for 12–24 months.
Global Postdoctoral Fellowships: Open to European nationals or long-term residents to carry out research in a non-associated Third Country (12–24 months), followed by a mandatory 12-month return phase in Europe.
What does the grant support?
Postdoctoral research and training: The scheme funds individual fellowships for researchers to carry out research and innovation projects in any scientific field, either in Europe or globally. Fellowships are available for those wishing to move within Europe, come to Europe from abroad, or for European nationals and long-term residents to work outside Europe and return.
Career development and skills acquisition: Researchers benefit from advanced training, the opportunity to work in new environments, and the development of transferable skills. The scheme encourages placements in the non-academic sector and supports reintegration, career restart, and researchers displaced by conflict.
Call deadline: 10 September 2025.