MSCA: Research Talent is Europe’s Strategic Advantage
29 June 2026
Today, the Coimbra Group and other leading organisations in the research and higher education sector present a joint statement on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), one of the most effective instruments of the Framework Programme to support researchers, strengthen Europe’s research institutions and contribute significantly to the advancement of knowledge across all scientific domains.
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is, above all, a research programme that should remain focused on supporting excellent research through investment in early- and mid-career researchers. Its bottom-up approach across all disciplines enables Europe to respond to emerging scientific, societal, and geopolitical challenges while strengthening its long-term research and innovation capacity. Beyond promoting mobility, MSCA helps researchers develop independence, build international networks, and advance their careers. Over the past 30 years, it has become a recognised mark of excellence, improving doctoral and postdoctoral training, supervision, international collaboration, and institutional research environments, thereby reinforcing Europe’s competitiveness and ability to attract and retain top research talent.
MSCA should not be used to address short-term labour market needs. Its unique value lies in supporting excellent researchers and in strengthening Europe’s long-term research capacity on the basis of an open, bottom-up, and research-field agnostic approach that fosters scientific excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and unexpected breakthroughs. Introducing top-down thematic priorities would undermine its long-term contribution to Europe’s resilience and competitiveness. Rather than changing the programme’s model, policymakers should increase its funding, as high oversubscription means many excellent researchers and projects remain unsupported, representing a significant loss of talent and research potential.
While mission-oriented and targeted research programmes have an important role, these should be delivered through dedicated instruments under FP10 Pillar II or other programmes, not by reshaping MSCA. To safeguard its unique impact, MSCA should remain in Pillar I as an open, researcher-driven programme across all disciplines, continuing to invest in the knowledge, talent, and scientific capacity that underpin Europe’s long-term competitiveness and future innovation.
The shared message of Coimbra Group and the signatories to European leaders negotiating the next Horizon Europe is: do not redesign one of Europe’s most successful research programmes—strengthen it. Preserve the proven MSCA model, significantly increase its budget, and enable many more excellent researchers to contribute to Europe’s future prosperity, resilience and global competitiveness.
Download the full statement here