UK-based researchers are once again the top beneficiaries of EU-funded post-doctoral fellowships

Selected UK-based projects will work on topics such as next-generation AI electronics, sustainable AI, prostate cancer diagnosis, climate change impact on railways. A list of all funded projects and coordinating organisations is available here.

UK research institutions are also the second biggest beneficiary of staff exchange projects supported by the European Commission - a total of 13. Italian research bodies lead this league table with 15 projects. The selected UK-based projects under the Staff Exchange strand span across all scientific disciplines and research areas including research in cancer diagnostics, agricultural resilience and developments in robotics and communication networks. A list of all funded projects and coordinating organisations is available here.

The next call for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships is planned to open on 9 April 2026.

The 2026 call for MSCA Staff Exchanges is now open for submissions and will close on 16 April 2026.

Background

MSCA (or Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) are a part of Horizon Europe focused on doctoral training, postdoctoral fellowships and staff exchanges between universities. Since 1996, the programme has played a crucial role in advancing research and innovation, supporting over 150,000 researchers, including 23 Nobel Prize winners. The programme has been a cornerstone of European research and a beacon of excellence, fostering mobility across disciplines, sectors, and countries and attracting and nurturing top talent.

UK-based researchers can access MSCA calls since the UK's association to Horizon Europe in 2024. That year the UK was by far the biggest beneficiary in these calls, with 773 participations representing an EU net contribution of €175.5 million or 17.1% of the total.

Horizon Europe is the biggest international research and innovation programme in the world with more than £82 billion (€95.5 billion) of funding available over seven years (2021 to 2027) from the EU budget, to which all associated countries are adding further contributions. It is open to the world, which means that participants can participate in most calls, regardless of where they are based. Researchers from associated countries have even greater access, they can lead projects and receive direct funding from the programme. The programme supports major research and innovation projects and international partnerships helping to tackle global challenges.

Questions & Answers on the UK's association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus can be found here, as well as in this FAQ

Joint statement by the European Commission and the UK Government on the UK's association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus

UK association to Horizon Europe

UK national contact points for Horizon Europe

Horizon dashboard, including EU-funded projects in the UK