MSCA Choose Europe for Science 2027
Horizon Europe · HORIZON-MSCA-2027-COFUND-02-01
Co-funding for programmes that recruit postdoctoral researchers with attractive salaries and clear long-term career paths in Europe.
This call is announced but not open yet. Dates and conditions can still change.
What is this call about?
The call co-funds talent recruitment programmes that give postdoctoral researchers attractive working conditions and clear long-term career prospects in Europe. It targets host organisations that combine an EU-funded phase with a phase they fund themselves.
What does this call fund?
Scope
The scheme aims to tackle brain drain and the precarity of research careers and to make Europe more attractive to promising young researchers. It co-funds talent recruitment programmes that offer researchers holding a doctoral degree excellent research and academic opportunities, possibly combined with management tasks, leading to concrete long-term career prospects. Programmes can cover any research discipline.
Two programme phases
- An EU-funded phase of 24 to 36 months, in which EU funding covers direct and indirect costs of implementing the programme.
- A phase of 24 months funded fully by the beneficiary, in which the applicant is expected to set salaries attractive at national level and ensure the necessary internal or external funds.
Applicants should specify the order of the two phases in the proposal.
Programme requirements
- Open, merit-based selection with transparent international peer review, in line with the European Charter for Researchers; additional criteria must match local human resources needs set out in institutional, regional or national strategies.
- Vacancies advertised internationally, including on EURAXESS, with gross salaries for both phases.
- Fellows define their own research topic and may take on teaching or management tasks.
- Concrete long-term career prospects, such as pathways to open-ended contracts, and a fair, transparent and structured career progression system.
- A Career Development Plan maintained throughout the programme, covering languages, transferable skills, teaching, publications and conferences.
Expected outcomes
More stable careers and broader skills for researchers, and for host organisations better human resources practices, greater international attractiveness and stronger research and teaching capacity.
What are the key facts?
- Call code
- HORIZON-MSCA-2027-COFUND-02-01
- Programme
- Horizon Europe
- Funder
- European Commission, Horizon Europe, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (COFUND postdoctoral programmes)
- Duration
- EU-funded phase of 24 to 36 months plus a 24-month phase funded by the beneficiary
Who can apply for this call?
- Applicants submit talent recruitment programmes for researchers holding a doctoral degree.
- The applicant funds one of the two programme phases (24 months) itself and is expected to set salaries attractive at national level; applicants should specify the order of the two phases in the proposal.
- Selection of researchers must be open, merit-based and based on transparent international peer review, in line with the European Charter for Researchers.
Check your eligibility and how your project fits
In your free account, we check the eligibility conditions against the call documents for your organisation and assess how well your project fits this call.
When is the deadline?
6 April 2027 (152 days)
Interested in this call? Summary written with AI from the official call documents. Details can differ, so check the official call page before you apply. Read the official call documents before you decide. The official text is always binding.
Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the official call documents. Official call page Last updated 6 October 2026.