MSCA-2025: First Open Calls

MSCA-2025: First Open Calls

What Are MSCA Actions within Horizon Europe?

MSCA-2025, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are one of the key initiatives of the Horizon Europe programme. These actions aim to provide high-quality training for researchers and foster international, intersectoral, and interdisciplinary collaboration in research. MSCA’s goal is to develop transferable skills in science and innovation, thereby strengthening Europe’s research capacities.

Within the Horizon Europe programme, MSCA is part of the Excellent Science pillar, which seeks to support the creation of cutting-edge research infrastructures and promote the training of the next generation of scientists. Through this call, the European Commission aims to improve employability and career prospects both within academia and beyond.

Types of Projects Funded

The MSCA-2025 actions fund a variety of research projects across different fields. Some of the types of programmes eligible for funding include:

  1. Doctoral Programmes: These provide research training for PhD candidates, equipping them with transferable skills and competencies. The programmes can involve international mobility and collaboration with organisations outside the academic sector, such as businesses or government agencies.
  2. Postdoctoral Programmes: These fund fellowships for advanced research training for postdoctoral researchers, promoting international mobility and the development of new skills to enhance researchers’ careers.
  3. Outreach Actions: These encourage interaction between researchers and the public, through events such as the European Researchers’ Night and activities in Schools with Researchers, with the goal of bringing science closer to citizens.

Which Organisations Can Access MSCA-2025 Funding?

Any public or private organisation established in an EU Member State or an associated country to Horizon Europe is eligible to participate in the MSCA-2025 calls. This includes universities, research centres, public bodies, businesses, and other entities engaged in research and the development of skills in the scientific field.

Open MSCA-2025 Calls

For 2025, the first MSCA-2025 calls have already been published, offering new opportunities for researchers and organisations. Below, we introduce the three main calls currently open:

1. MSCA COFUND 2025 (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-COFUND-01-01)

Deadline: 24 June 2025

This call is for postdoctoral programmes aimed at enhancing research opportunities and advanced training on an international scale. Funded projects must focus on intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering cooperation between academia, industry, and the public sector. Participating organisations will benefit from increased global visibility and an improvement in their research capacities.

2. MSCA COFUND 2025 Doctoral Programme (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-COFUND-01-01)

Deadline: 24 June 2025

This call funds doctoral programmes offering research training to PhD candidates. The projects can span any research discipline, and international collaboration is encouraged, particularly between the public and private sectors. Furthermore, the programmes must include a career development plan that helps improve the transferable skills of researchers and enhance their employability.

3. European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools 2026-2027 (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-CITIZENS-01-01)

Deadline: 22 October 2025

This call focuses on science outreach. It funds events such as the European Researchers’ Night, which takes place annually to promote the work of researchers. Additionally, the Researchers at Schools initiative enables researchers to directly interact with students, helping them understand the importance of research in addressing social challenges and sustainability.

Benefits for MSCA-2025 Participants

Participating in the MSCA-2025 actions offers a range of benefits for both researchers and organisations:

  • Researchers: They improve their career prospects by acquiring transferable skills and gaining international experience. They also gain access to global scientific networks.
  • Organisations: They enhance their visibility and reputation globally, improve the quality and sustainability of their research training, and strengthen their research and innovation capacities.

The MSCA-2025 calls within Horizon Europe Programme, represent a unique opportunity to advance research in Europe. Thanks to these new actions, researchers will have access to substantial funding for developing innovative projects, and organisations can strengthen their research capabilities globally. If you are a researcher or an organisation interested in participating in these actions, make sure to check out the open calls and prepare your proposal to make the most of these funding opportunities.