The European Commission has announced a significant funding boost of €99.5 million for international research cooperation through the 2024 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges
Overall, 83 projects have been selected to receive funding under this initiative to improve cross-sector and cross-border collaboration among research and innovation stakeholders.
This year’s funding received 329 applications; 324 were seen as eligible and evaluated. The final selection of 83 projects showed a 26% success rate.
These initiatives will bring together academic institutions, businesses, and non-profit organisations from across the globe, enhancing knowledge transfer and advancing frontier research.
A critical funding boost to help a wide range of research fields
The selected projects cover all scientific disciplines, focusing on addressing global challenges and advancing technological innovation. Some key research areas include advanced health technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and deep tech.
Projects will explore cancer diagnostics, climate resilience, neurodegenerative diseases, and circular economy practices.
Initiatives will also investigate quantum physics, inclusive education, democratic governance, and food security. Other projects will concentrate on the valorisation of cultural heritage, particularly through developing digital information models and 3D databases aimed at preserving architectural landmarks and promoting sustainable planning in European border regions.
Global participation
The 2024 MSCA Staff Exchanges call attracted a wide range and international cohort of participants. The 83 funded projects involve 1,025 organisations from 111 countries, including EU member states, countries associated with Horizon Europe, and partners from other regions.
Among these organisations are 300 non-academic entities and 150 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), highlighting the strong intersectoral approach of the programme.
Project coordination covers 17 countries, showing the initiative’s geographic depth and international appeal. By promoting staff mobility and joint research, MSCA Staff Exchanges allow stronger links between academia and industry, ultimately contributing to innovation ecosystems in Europe and beyond.
The following steps for funded projects
The European Research Executive Agency (REA) notified successful applicants after the evaluation process. They can now access detailed evaluation results and further instructions through the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal.
The grant agreement preparation phase is currently underway. Once finalised, a complete list of the funded projects will be published on the MSCA Staff Exchanges 2024 call page and CORDIS, the European Commission’s public research results database.
The earliest project start dates are expected in the summer of 2025. Projects placed on the reserve list may still be considered, depending on the completion of grant agreements with the initially selected consortia.
Opportunities for future participation
Organisations interested in future funding opportunities can now apply for the 2-25 MSCA Staff Exchange call, open for submissions until 8 October 2025. An information session is scheduled for 5 June 2025 to support potential applications, guiding proposal preparation and submission procedures.
The MSCA Staff Exchanges programme continues to be a foundation of the EU’s Horizon Europe framework, promoting international cooperation, nurturing research talent, and driving innovation through global partnerships.
![Figure 1: Sketch of the evolution of the Universe over the last 13.77 billion years. It started with the Big Bang, followed by an extremely short period of rapid exponential expansion. The furthest we can see is the cosmic microwave background, when radiation decoupled from matter, approximately 380,000 years after the Big Bang. This is followed by the ‘dark ages,’ during which this radiation redshifted from the visible regime into infrared and sub-mm wavelengths. The occurrence of the first stars, about 400 million years after the Big Bang, ended this phase, spearheading the formation of galaxies as we see them today. [Credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team, public domain]](https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fig-1_1200-100x70.jpg "How did the first stars form in space?")
