National and regional initiatives to reinforce Europe’s position as a top destination for global research talent have just reached the impressive number of 101, complementing Choose Europe for Science – an initiative launched by European Commission in May 2025.
Representing an amount of around €1 billion in funding opportunities, these initiatives reinforce EU-level efforts under Choose Europe for Science, which aims to foster a dynamic and values-driven research environment, backed by nearly €900 million in EU funding, offered through calls targeting global researchers wishing to continue or move their careers to Europe.
From competitive grants to long-term positions and fellowships, national and regional initiatives offer support to researchers at all career stages. At the European level, applications for the European Research Council (ERC) grants from non-EU researchers have nearly quadrupled. Applications for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions postdoctoral fellowships also rose by 65% over the past year. Furthermore, the EU Visa Strategy and the Recommendation on attracting talent for innovation, adopted on 29 January 2026 by the Commission, aim to simplify administrative processes, hence boosting accessibility for researchers. This reflects the EU’s strategic drive to create a single, thriving market for research and innovation.
More information: Choose Europe
Source: European Commission | Press Corner