29 Apr 2026
EC presents first 16 projects selected under MSCA's 'Choose Europe for Science'
On 29 April 2026, the European Commission unveiled the first 16 projects selected under the ‘Choose Europe for Science' initiative, a pilot scheme designed to attract and retain world-class researchers in the EU in key areas for Europe such as AI, biomedicine, robotics, genomics, climate, energy and advanced materials.
Funded with €20 million from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under Horizon Europe, the initiative will provide postdoctoral researchers with stable career paths, better working conditions, and long-term opportunities, reinforcing Europe's reputation as a global leader in science and innovation.
The pilot call received 58 proposals, with 49 eligible for evaluation, coordinated by organisations based in 9 countries (4 in Spain, 3 in France and in Latvia, and one each in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Portugal and the UK). These proposals include 84 partner organisations from across 25 countries. The first funded positions will be advertised on EURAXESS from September 2026, with recruitment continuing into early 2027.
The pilot introduces a new funding model whereby participating organisations, such as universities, receive EU support to select and recruit postdoctoral researchers. They will employ and train them throughout their project. This guarantees more stable career pathways while promoting high standards in recruitment, supervision, training and working conditions. It also ensures that Europe not only attracts the best researchers but also keeps them, fostering a thriving, sustainable research ecosystem.
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