Funding opportunities

The goal of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will be open to excellent researchers of any nationality. The scheme also encourages researchers to work on research and innovation projects in the non-academic sector and is open to researchers wishing to reintegrate in Europe, to those who are displaced by conflict, as well as to researchers with high potential who are seeking to restart their careers in research.

Project results are expected to contribute to both of the following expected outcomes: Additive manufacturing including high performance polymers, composites and metals, offering significantly improved performance compared to state-of-the-art. Entire process including design / manufacturing / characterization and testing / certification. Sustainable aircraft circular design and manufacturing processes of individual high-value components towards further developing the innovation pipeline from system demonstration to deployment stage in the EU and Associated Countries.

Expected Outcome: Strengthening the expert capacity in the EU in a wide range of raw materials along the whole value chain; Better informed and more effective decision-making by the EU and National policy makers and the producers and users of raw materials regarding the supply and demand of raw materials and the associated environmental and social aspects; Improved EU official statistics and building the EU knowledge base of primary and secondary raw materials.

Expected Outcome: Reducing dependencies of critical and strategic raw materials through partial or total substitution by safe and sustainable innovative advanced materials and/or via more efficient use of critical and strategic raw materials in production processes; Speeding up the innovation cycle within value chain(s) important for European industry; Enhancing competitiveness of the industries and operational costs, while making supply chains more secure; New or improved production processes, innovative advanced materials and products that are safer and more sustainable, supporting a clean and autonomous economy; and Demonstrating how the safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) chemicals and materials framework can guide innovation.

Expected Outcome: Increased recovery rates of valuable raw materials, particularly critical raw materials from low grade or complex ores and/or from mining waste; Increased economic performance in terms of higher material-, water-, energy- and cost-efficiency and flexibility in minerals processing and metallurgical processes; and Improved health, safety and environmental performance of the operations throughout the whole life cycle that is considered, including a reduction in waste, wastewater and generation of emissions of air pollutants and a better recovery of resources from generated waste, reducing the environmental footprint and contributing to biodiversity and ecosystems preservation.

Expected Outcome: Innovative advanced materials designed for circularity are adopted in products faster, through accelerated production and technology uptake; Business models become available to enhance the use of circular advanced materials in strategic value chains; and Resource efficiency (materials and energy) is increased significantly through a focus on circular advanced materials. Quality standards, harmonisation and regulatory requirements are addressed facilitating simplified market transition.

Expected Outcome: Cooperation with Japan in the field of innovative advanced materials is strengthened.

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: For supported doctoral candidates New research and transferable skills and competences, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia; New knowledge allowing the conversion of ideas into products and services, where relevant; Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact. For participating organisations Improved quality, relevance and sustainability of doctoral training programmes and supervision arrangements; Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines; Increased integration of training and research activities between participating organisations; Boosted R&I capacity; Increased internationalisation and attractiveness; Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations.

Expected Outcome: Projects should contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Generate rigorous, policy-relevant evidence on the factors that may influence students, researchers, and high-skilled workers from non-EU countries to move to and remain in the EU. Provide policymakers and higher education/research institutions with guidance on which policies and programmes could be effective in attracting talented students, researchers and high-skilled workers from non-EU countries to the EU. Develop actionable advice to policymakers and higher education/research institutions about how to retain talented students, researchers and high-skilled workers from non-EU countries to ensure a long-term positive impact on the EU economy’s innovation and competitiveness. Provide evidence-based policy insights/options to improve the coherence of migration pathways for skilled talent across the EU. Support the development of more flexible and attractive mobility schemes, reducing administrative barriers, increasing accessibility and enhancing retention mechanisms to enhance the EU’s competitiveness in research, innovation, and cultural exchange.

Expected Outcome: The Synergy action for Teaming Centres of Excellence (CoE) responds to the need to ensure the sustainability of CoE funded under the Teaming calls[1]. The establishment of CoE in Widening countries, supported by a significant investment in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, has created new opportunities for scientific, societal, and economic impact. However, to fully capitalise on this investment and enhance the sustainability and international competitiveness of these CoE, it is essential to facilitate stronger collaboration and strategic joint initiatives among them. Proposals are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes: Stronger long-term collaboration among Teaming CoE through structured joint initiatives and clustering efforts to enhance mutual learning, resource sharing, and collective research and innovation capacity; Strategic transformation of R&I systems by enhancing institutional cooperation and supporting structural reforms at national and regional levels; Promotion of multidisciplinary and transnational cooperation that will enable CoE to address critical European and global challenges, and EU policy priorities; Promote ERA priorities such as responsible AI usage, knowledge valorisation, commercialization, and entrepreneurial activities, such as SMEs and start-ups, within the CoE to maximise economic and societal impact; Stronger visibility of CoE and their recognition at national, regional, and European levels through structured engagement with industry, policymakers, and society; Improved synergies between CoE and national and EU programmes to leverage additional funding opportunities and policy support.

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: For supported postdoctoral fellows Increased set of research and transferable skills and competences, leading to improved employability and career prospects of MSCA postdoctoral fellows within academia and beyond; New mind-sets and approaches to R&I work forged through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary experience; Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact. For participating organisations Increased alignment of working conditions for researchers in accordance with the principles set out in the European Charter for Researchers; Enhanced quality and sustainability of research training and supervision; Increased global attractiveness, visibility and reputation of the participating organisation(s); Stronger R&I capacity and output among participating organisations; better transfer of knowledge; Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations.

Expected Outcome: This action builds on the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 action (HORIZON-MSCA-PF-2026). The target group are host organisations located in Widening countries. Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: For supported ERA Fellows: Increased set of research and transferable skills and competences, leading to improved employability and career prospects of fellows within academia and beyond; New mind-sets and approaches to R&I work forged through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary experience; Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public, that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact; For participating organisations in the Widening countries: Increased alignment of working conditions for researchers in accordance with the principles set out in the European Charter for Researchers[1]; Enhanced quality and sustainability of research training and supervision; Increased global attractiveness, visibility and reputation; Stronger R&I capacity and output; better transfer of knowledge. For Widening countries: More postdoctoral researchers attracted to Widening countries with competitive grants and attractive working and employment conditions.

Expected Outcome: New technological solutions with improved performance and reduced energy and environmental impact consumption providing significant advances towards the emergence of competitive value chains in IAM-based sensing components in Europe. Widespread adoption of low-cost IAM-based sensing solutions in e.g. environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and next-generation smart sensing applications including health monitoring

Expected Outcome: The Hop-on Facility allows for legal entities from Widening countries to join already funded Horizon Pillar II ‘main’ work programme and EIC Pathfinder collaborative R&I actions, subject to the agreement of the respective consortium and provided that legal entities from such countries are not yet participating as beneficiary, associated partner, or affiliated entity. The scheme aims to improve the inclusiveness of Horizon Europe. Selected consortia will be invited to submit a grant agreement amendment request of the eligible already funded action. Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: At system level, mobilise excellence in the Widening countries, increase visibility of the beneficiaries from the widening countries, improve knowledge circulation, and boost their participation in specific thematic domains; At consortium level, open up established networks to new connections and partnerships, improve research excellence of the Widening country’s institutions in specific fields, enlarge outreach of the participants’ R&I actions and provides access to new talent pools; At the level of the Widening beneficiary, develop new competencies and skills for working in transnational projects including research management and dissemination and exploitation.

Expected Outcome: Twinning actions aim to enhance networking activities between the research institutions and research infrastructures of the Widening countries acting as co-ordinators by linking it with at least two internationally leading research institutions from two different Member States or Associated Countries. Twinning actions intend to raise the research profile of the institution from the Widening country and its staff, including strengthening the research management capacity. Proposals are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Improved research excellence and capacities in Widening countries closing the research and innovation gap within the European Union; Enhanced strategic collaboration between the research institutions or higher education establishments of the Widening countries and at least two internationally leading research institutions or higher education establishments at European Union level; Raised reputation, research profile and attractiveness of the coordinating institution, and improved research profile of its staff; Strengthened research management capacities of the coordinating institution; Development of novel approaches in R&I collaboration with increased mobility (inwards and outwards) of researchers.

Expected Outcome: Advanced manufacturing technology and machinery becomes available in Europe for the manufacturing of key and high-performance products; Where relevant, production becomes increasingly circular through the reuse of secondary raw materials; and/or innovative advanced materials are incorporated in manufactured products, leading to better performance and quality; Resource efficiency in terms of materials and energy is increased significantly; and Circularity, productivity and competitiveness are increased, and hence resilience of European industry is enhanced.

Expected Outcome: Raw materials recycling and re-use of components and/or products from end-of-life products technologies and urban mines, including cost-effective and efficient disassembly, separation, shredding and sorting technologies for separation and recycling and the sustainable embedment of the process regarding energy, resource and water efficiency; Projects should analyse impacts on biodiversity of urban mines and subsequently propose solutions for reducing these impacts with the aim of renaturing these sites; Improved responsible supply of raw materials to Europe contributing to the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA)[1] objectives (Article 1).

Applicants wishing to receive financial support from the JECS Trust should submit their bids electronically to the JECS Trust secretariat. Deadlines to submit your application (every year) : For General Activities: 31st May 30th November For Mobility: 28th February 31st May 31st August 30th November Please note that the project you submit for Mobility must not begin before 2 months after the deadline in which you submitted your application. For example if you apply on the deadline of 28th February, your project submitted must not begin before May.

Expected Outcome: Projects results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: For supported doctoral candidates or postdoctoral researchers Deeper and more diverse set of research-related and transferable skills and competences; Improved employability and career prospects both within academia and beyond; New mind-sets and approaches to R&I work forged through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary experience; Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact. For participating organisations Enhanced quality and sustainability of research training; Increased global attractiveness, visibility and reputation of the participating organisation(s); Stronger R&I capacity and output among participating organisations; Increased contribution of the participating organisations to the local, regional and/or national socio-economic ecosystems; Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: For staff members Increased set of research and transferable skills and competences, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia; More knowledge and innovative ideas converted into products, processes and services; More entrepreneurial mind-sets, testing new and innovative ideas; Increased international exposure leading to extended networks and opportunities; Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact. For participating organisations Innovative ways of cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines; Strengthened and broader international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaborative networks; Boosted R&I capacity

Scope: The EIC Accelerator supports companies (principally SMEs, including start-ups) to scale up high impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. The EIC Accelerator provides a unique combination of grant and investment funding and Business Acceleration Services (see Section VII of EIC Work Programme 2026). The EIC Accelerator focuses in particular on innovations building on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs (‘deep tech’) and where significant funding is needed over a long timeframe before returns can be generated (‘patient capital’). Such innovations often struggle to attract financing because the risks and time period involved are too high. Funding and support from the EIC Accelerator is designed to enable such innovators to attract the full investment amounts needed for scale up in a shorter timeframe. The EIC Accelerator supports the later stages of technology development as well as scale up. The technology component of your innovation must therefore have been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment (e.g., at least Technology Readiness Level 5 completed). The EIC Accelerator looks to support companies where the EIC support will act as a catalyst to crowd in other investors necessary for the scale up of the innovation. Applicants to EIC Accelerator can submit proposals through: EIC Accelerator Open - which has no predefined thematic priorities and is open to proposals in any field of technology or application EIC Accelerator Challenges - in predefined areas of emerging and strategic technologies.

Expected Outcome: Advanced manufacturing technology and machinery becomes available in Europe for the manufacturing of key and high-performance products; Where relevant, production becomes increasingly circular through the reuse of secondary raw materials; and/or innovative advanced materials are incorporated in manufactured products, leading to better performance and quality; Resource efficiency in terms of materials and energy is increased significantly; and Circularity, productivity and competitiveness are increased, and hence resilience of European industry is enhanced.