EU Continues Investments in Knowledge and Competitiveness

The European Commission announced it would invest over €7.3 billion through its newly adopted Horizon Europe work program for 2025. It was made to strengthen Europe's research and innovation engine and global edge. This should drive science, accelerate the EU's green and digital transitions, and enhance Europe's competitiveness.

The program will help attract and retain top researchers in Europe and offer targeted support to those affected by war and displacement. As part of these efforts, the EC updated the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) 2023-25 work program part to offer more support for Ukrainian scientists and to launch a new MSCA ‘Choose Europe for Science' pilot, which will offer more support and opportunities for early-career researchers, including competitive allowances and longer contracts.

This pilot is part of a €500 million package for 2025–2027 and the wider ‘Choose Europe for Science' initiative to make Europe a magnet for researchers, presented by the EC President Ursula von der Leyen last week. The initiative focuses on keeping science free and open, investing in talent, and accelerating innovation in Europe. Through the European Research Council (ERC), researchers relocating to Europe already receive a top-up beyond their grant, which has recently been doubled. Additionally, a new seven-year ‘super grants' under the ERC will offer long-term support for top talent.