“Europe is choosing science, and we are making the case for science to choose Europe. Funding and support are available at European, national and regional level. We are bringing everything together in one place so that international researchers can become active players on team Europe.” (Commissioner Zaharieva)
The European Union is stepping up to become the world’s most attractive destination for researchers and innovators, offering them attractive careers as well as excellent working and living conditions.
The consolidated ‘Choose Europe for Science’ package, compiled by the European Commission and now available on the EURAXESS platform, highlights billions of euros worth of opportunities for researchers at every stage of their careers. These range from competitive grants and mobility schemes to tenure-track positions, fellowships for researchers at risk, and career development support in all 27 Member States.
The campaign promotes Europe’s values-driven research environment and high living standards, backed by a new €500 million package for 2025-27 to make Europe a magnet for researchers. To further strengthen this ambition, the Commission is proposing a new call for European Research Area (ERA) Chairs worth €230 million under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–27. If endorsed by Member States, the call would more than double the budget of the previous round and could support up to 120 top researchers and research managers working in countries lagging behind in research and innovation performance.
EURAXESS
EURAXESS is part of the European Commission’s ‘Choose Europe for Science’ initiative, supporting researchers worldwide, especially those facing political pressure, funding cuts, or limits on academic freedom.
In addition to EU-level funding programmes, EURAXESS features an overview of national and regional funding opportunities.
EU Level Funding Opportunities
Researchers based outside the EU have many opportunities to engage with European funding schemes. The EU’s research and innovation programmes are designed to be inclusive, promoting global collaboration and excellence.
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s flagship funding programme for research and innovation. Running from 2021 to 2027, it is the world’s largest international research programme, with a budget of €93.5 billion.
The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies.
European Research Council (ERC)
The ERC, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. It funds creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based across Europe. The overall ERC budget from 2021 to 2027 is more than €16 billion.
The ERC offers 4 core grant schemes: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept Grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to explore the innovation potential of their ideas or research results.
Specifically for the Advanced grant, researchers moving from non-EU countries can apply for an additional EUR 2 million to cover eligible start-up costs, including personnel expenses, equipment, and access to large facilities.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) support exceptional research and innovation, providing funding opportunities for researchers at all career stages. Through cross-border mobility, interdisciplinary training, and cross-sector collaboration, MSCA help build Europe’s research capacity and fosters long-term career growth for high-skilled researchers.
In addition, the MSCA fund the creation of high-quality doctoral and postdoctoral training programmes, while financially supporting collaborative research projects worldwide. This contributes to shaping the future of higher education institutions, research centres, and non-academic organisations.
Committed to excellence in research and education, MSCA aligns with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for Researcher Recruitment, setting benchmarks for high-quality training and career development.
National and Regional Initiatives
Mobility is fundamental to scientific exchange. Across the European Union, national and regional funding schemes are unlocking billions of euros in funding opportunities to attract leading research talent from beyond EU borders.
The EU and its member states offer fellowships, visiting researcher programs, and recruitment programmes (including tenure-track positions, professorships, and junior research group leadership roles) that allow international researchers to work in EU-based institutions, build collaborative networks, and gain valuable international experience, often serving as a stepping stone to longer-term opportunities within the EU research system.
65 national and regional opportunities can be found on the EURAXESS website here.
Partners
