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.
At today’s Competitiveness Council, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva presented a snapshot of the more than 60 regional, national, and EU funding and support schemes that help researchers advance their careers in Europe.
The consolidated Choose Europe for Science package, compiled by the 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.
Commissioner Zaharieva said:
“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.”
The announcement is part of the EU’s Choose Europe initiative. Launched earlier this month by President von der Leyen in Paris, the campaign promotes Europe’s values-driven research environment and high living standards, backed by a new EUR 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 EUR 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.
At the EU level, the Commission is working to put in place new funding opportunities for global research talent:
- additional support of EUR 2 million per researcher as part of ERC Advanced Grants to cover eligible relocation and start-up costs, including personnel expenses, equipment, and access to large facilities
- under the soon-to-be-launched ERC Super Grant initiative, grants of a seven-year duration will be offered
- the MSCA Choose Europe for Science Pilot, launched on 15 May, offers extended postdoctoral fellowships and encourages institutions to provide longer-term employment opportunities to attract and retain top research talent globally with a budget of EUR 22.5 million
Joining forces for new ERA Policy Agenda 2025-27
Further demonstrating their commitment to supporting research careers and creating the right framework conditions for researchers in the EU, Member States’ ministers also adopted the European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda 2025-27 today.
In the year of the 25th anniversary of ERA, the new agenda builds on the achievements of the first edition covering 2022-24. Translating strategic priorities into concrete actions, it aims to further improve coordination of research and innovation (R&I) policies at all levels and to put in place the so-called fifth freedom, a single market for research, innovation and technology.
The ERA Policy Agenda 2025-27 aims to:
- enhance EU competitiveness and ensure our strategic autonomy by coordinating dedicated investments and reforms in R&I
- strengthen EU excellence and impact in R&I, its global scientific leadership and attractiveness to global talent by streamlining research career paths, facilitating researchers’ mobility and knowledge sharing across Europe, and promoting access to cutting-edge infrastructures, and
- enhance the EU’s sustainable development and societal impact through the coordination of R&I efforts in industrial transformation and synergies with other policies
The ERA Policy Agenda 2025-27 outlines long-term policies such as open science, research infrastructures and research careers, and highlights concise, policy-driven and goal-oriented joint actions. They address current challenges including artificial intelligence in science, research security and science for policy.
Background
The European Research Area (ERA) aims to create a unified research and innovation market by aligning national and EU policies, improving research infrastructures and promoting open science and international collaboration.
More information
EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion
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Details
- Publication date
- 23 May 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Research and Innovation