MSCA Choose Europe for Science
Recruiting talented postdocs to Europe/UiB and offering them long-term career development
Hovedinnhold
MSCA Choose Europe for Science is a new funding scheme under the MSCA umbrella. It is designed to increase the attractiveness of research careers in Europe and address precarity in academic employment. It aims to turn brain drain into brain gain by offering excellent working conditions and promoting long‑term career prospects for postdoctoral researchers.
Via this scheme institutions are supported to recruit postdoctoral researchers with the intention of continued employment beyond the project period. The other principles of MSCA like transnational and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of their career are also valid in this scheme, although not so much in focus as in other MSCA schemes.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Each CHOOSE EUROPE proposal has one main participant, such UiB/a university, funding agency, research organisation, enterprise, etc., in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Implementing and/or Associated partners are permitted.
At least three postdoctoral must be recruited for up to 5 years. These can be of any nationality, must hold a doctoral degree and meet the MSCA mobility rule: Not have lived or worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline.
WHAT CAN BE FUNDED?
Like the usual MSCA COFUND scheme, the CHOOSE EUROPE scheme funds recruitment programmes, not research. Proposals can come from any level at UiB (e.g. a faculty). The scheme is fully bottom-up, i.e. recruitment to any research area can be funded.
Co‑funding model (two phases):
- Phase 1 (MSCA-funded, 24–36 months): EU/MSCA provides a Choose Europe for Science allowance, equivalent to minimum researcher salary (approx. €6700/month) plus leave and special needs allowances, and institutional cost contributions.
- Phase 2 (Institution-funded, 24 months): The host institution continues the employment and must offer competitive national salaries; no MSCA funds may be used.
Programme duration: up to 72 months.
The EU contribution is limited to EUR 5 million per beneficiary per call.
Obligations of the host institution:
- Must demonstrate a strong commitment to long‑term career development, including employment beyond the MSCA‑funded phase.
- Must provide high-standard working conditions and adopt best practices in training and career development.
If you have questions regarding the CHOOSE EUROPE scheme, please contact the Local Contact Point.
Calls
The second Choose Europe for Science call opens 8 December 2026. The proposal template and the Guide for Applicants will be made available there.
More information. Information and documents for the first call, HORIZON-MSCA-2025-COFUND-02-01 that had deadline in December 2025, are found here.
Next deadline: 6 April 2027