Source: European Parliament
The EU is a safe and attractive place for global researchers, and the Commission is working to further enhance the attractiveness of the EU as a place to conduct cutting-edge research. For example, by supporting the implementation of the new European framework for research careers[1], including the new European Charter for Researchers[2], with a view to retaining EU talents and attracting international ones, including from the US[3].
Several initiatives are in the pipeline to further attract international talents. This includes a new ‘Choose Europe for Science’ Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA)[4] already in 2025 to provide excellent researchers coming to Europe with pathways to stable employment[5], increasing the funding for European Research Council (ERC)[6] grantees who move to Europe from abroad, as well as a visa strategy.
At the same time, EURAXESS[7] continues to provide personalised support to incoming researchers, covering topics such as visas, relocation, career development, pensions, and family integration.
Furthermore, the European Research Area (ERA) Talent Platform[8] as a one-stop-shop for researchers ensures the visibility of the attractive environment of European careers, and a Research and Innovation Careers Observatory (ReICO)[9] will provide as of mid-2025 data from EU Member States and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD) countries on research careers to support additional evidence-based policies. Targeted communication activities are currently being assessed.
A proposal for a legislative ‘ERA Act’ is expected in the 3rd quarter of 2026, which will include measures to further strengthen researchers’ careers and mobility, including the freedom of scientific research, thereby enhancing Europe’s attractiveness for researchers.
The upcoming advanced digital skills academies under the Digital Europe Programme will include the possibility of establishing fellowship schemes, allowing PhD students and young professionals to work in EU-based companies.
- [1] Council Recommendation of 18 December 2023 on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe, OJ C C2023/1640, 29/12/2023.
- [2] https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/hrexcellenceaward/european-charter-researchers .
- [3] Measures include for example a Mutual Learning Exercise ( https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/statistics/policy-support-facility/psf-challenge/mutual-learning-exercise-research-careers ) under the Horizon Europe Policy Support Facility supporting the exchange of good practices by Member States, a Horizon Europe Talent Ecosystems pilot call https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-ERA-02-03?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094503,31094502&frameworkProgramme=43108390&callIdentifier=HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-ERA-02&order=ASC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=identifie supporting attractive careers for early-career researchers, the HR Excellence in Research award https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/hrexcellenceaward to improve working conditions in organisations employing researchers, based on the principles of the European Charter for Researchers, and the enhancement of the RESAVER https://www.resaver.eu/ complementary pension scheme for researchers.
- [4] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_657 .
- [5] The MSCA also provide a wide range of training, mobility and career development opportunities that are already available and open to researchers of all nationalities, including US researchers. See https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/.
- [6] https://erc.europa.eu/about-erc/erc-glance.
- [7] https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/ .
- [8] https://ec.europa.eu/era-talent-platform/ .
- [9] https://ec.europa.eu/era-talent-platform/reico/ , developed in partnership with the OECD with Horizon Europe support.