The ‘Choose Europe’ initiative, which is currently being piloted, will be extended to 2027 with a doubling of the budget, a draft plan shows.
The European Commission will begin funding €51.25 million in 2027 as part of its “Choose Europe” initiative to make the continent a more attractive place to pursue a career in research.
The European Commission launched a €22.5 million pilot offer in October, which will close on December 3.
However, the draft work plan for 2026-27 for Marie Skłodowska Curie Action (MSCA), Horizon Europe’s research program, reveals plans to extend support.
What is Select Europe?
The ‘Choose Europe’ initiative aims to tackle brain drain and research career instability by co-funding the recruitment of postdoctoral researchers for up to five years.
The EU funding will cover this position for two to three years, but the host institution will need to provide funding for a further two years. Each funded program must employ at least three researchers.
Europe’s track record in research is impressive and extensive. More than 2 million researchers, around 25% of the world’s total, are based here, leading in important fields such as green technology, health, engineering and digital science.
The pillars of Choose Europe are:
Scientific freedom and openness Robust funding and long-term support Bring innovation to market faster
This extension gives researchers more flexibility
The research community welcomed the first Choose Europe pilot, but there were also concerns that research budgets would be cut nationally in several EU member states, making it difficult for research institutions to cover their contributions.
This new extension will give universities more flexibility by allowing them to cover either the first or second phase of their program with EU funding.
Attracting foreign human resources
Attracting international talent to Europe has become a top priority, especially as researchers from around the world have fewer opportunities in the United States than before.
Recruited researchers may be of any nationality, but must not have resided or conducted principal work or research in the country of the hiring institution for more than 12 months in the past three years.
The draft program of work would allow researchers to carry out MSCA-supported projects on a part-time basis for personal, family or professional reasons, potentially benefiting international scientists who still have family ties in their home countries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for global talent in her speech announcing the initiative earlier this year.
“We are choosing to be a continent where innovation serves humanity and global talent is welcomed,” she said. “To all the young girls and boys who dream of a life in science, as Marie Curie once did – choose science. Choose Europe.” With the European Choice Initiative, the EU is setting the stage for a new golden age of scientific achievement. There, research in Europe drives progress around the world. Extending the program only takes this further.
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