The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships aim to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral mobility. Open to excellent researchers of any nationality, the scheme encourages work on research and innovation projects in both the academic and non-academic sectors. It supports researchers wishing to reintegrate into Europe, those displaced by conflict, and those seeking to restart their careers in research.

Fellowships are provided to researchers undertaking international mobility either to or between EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and non-associated Third Countries. Applications are made jointly by the researcher and a beneficiary in the academic or non-academic sector.

• European Postdoctoral Fellowships: Open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe. The standard duration of these fellowships must be between 12 and 24 months.
• Global Postdoctoral Fellowships: Open to European nationals or long-term residents who wish to engage in R&I projects with organizations outside EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. These fellowships require an outgoing phase of minimum 12 and maximum 24 months in a non-associated Third Country, and a mandatory 12-month return phase to a host organization based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Secondments: Researchers receiving a Postdoctoral Fellowship may include a secondment phase within the overall duration of their fellowship in any country worldwide. This phase can be a single period or divided into shorter mobility periods.

• European Postdoctoral Fellowships: Secondments cannot exceed one third of the requested duration of the action and should align with project objectives, adding significant value and impact.
• Global Postdoctoral Fellowships: Optional secondments are allowed for up to one third of the outgoing phase. Up to three months can be spent at the start of the project at the beneficiary or associated partners before moving to the Third Country. This period is considered part of the outgoing phase.

Secondments cannot occur during the mandatory twelve-month return period to the host organization in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Placements in the Non-Academic Sector: Postdoctoral Fellowships can include an additional period of up to six months for placements in the non-academic sector within an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Training Activities: Training activities should include key transferable skills, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, good scientific conduct, and promoting Open Science practices.

Career Development Plan: A Career Development Plan should be established jointly by the supervisor(s) and the researcher, covering research objectives, training needs, transferable skills, teaching, and participation in conferences and events.

Euratom: Organizations active in nuclear research in EU Member States or countries associated with the Euratom Research and Training Programme are eligible to participate.

ERA Fellowships: ERA Fellowships provide specific support for researchers to undertake their fellowship in a widening country, helping to spread excellence and foster balanced brain circulation.

Indicative timeline

• 9 April 2026: Launch of the call for proposals
• 9 September 2026: Deadline for submitting proposals
• February 2027: Notification of call results to applicants (TBC)
• February-May 2027: Grant agreement signature for successful projects (TBC)
• May 2027: First EU-funded projects start (TBC)

MSCA are open to all domains of research and innovation. Any type of organisation can apply for Horizon Europe funding as long as they have the operational and financial capacity to carry out the tasks they propose.

The following participants are eligible for funding:

• Any legal entity established in a Member State or associated country, or created under Union law.
• Any international European interest organisation.
• Any legal entity established in a third country identified in the work programme.

Interested researchers submit an application together with a host organisation, which can be a university, research institution, business, SME or other organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Researchers interested in PFs:

• Should have a PhD degree at the time of the deadline for applications.
• Must have a maximum of eight years experience in research from the date of the award of their PhD degree.
• Should comply with mobility rules: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.
• The scheme is also open to researchers wishing to reintegrate in Europe, those who are displaced by conflict, and those seeking to restart their careers.

⚠️ New in 2026 (relevant update):

• Resubmission restriction: applicants who scored below 80% in the 2025 call are not eligible to apply in 2026.

In case of interest, please click on "m'interessa" and we will contact you.