HE Work Programme 2026-2027 MSCA update: Overview of main changes

The updated Horizon Europe Work Programme (HE WP) 2026-2027 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) was published on 29 September 2026 (available here). An overview of the changes compared to the previous version (1.0 with publication date 11 December 2025, available here) is outlined in this article.

Choose Europe for Science initiative: additional funding for Postdoctoral Fellowships and Doctoral Networks

In the General introduction of the HE WP and the main principles in the MSCA WP it is stated that as part of the Choose Europe for Science initiative, additional budget is being provided for MSCA in response to the significant increase in international demand for MSCA funding. The additional funding will increase the budget for the Postdoctoral Fellowships and the Doctoral Networks calls (2 times +€35 million in 2026; 2 times +€71 million in 2027). Furthermore minor increases for 2027 call budgets are implemented for COFUND (+€0.07 million), MSCA Choose Europe for Science (+€0.07 million), MSCA and Citizens (+€0.02m) and Staff Exchanges (+€0.11 million).

Staff Exchanges 2027 call

The call deadline has been brought forward by two days from 15 to 13 April 2027. Furthermore in line with Article 22(6) of the HE Regulation, a new eligibility restriction was added on participation of legal entities established in China if the proposed project concerns one or more of the 10 critical technology areas included in this Commission Recommendation. The verification of the eligibility against this condition will be done during the grant preparation phase.

MSCA Choose Europe for Science 2027 call

For the MSCA Choose Europe for Science 2027 call the EU contribution limit per beneficiary doubled from €5 to €10 million. The reference to “monthly gross remuneration" has been replaced by “monthly gross salary (net salary + employee’s taxes and contributions)". As of this call, implementing partners must be established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Lastly there are some changes in the wording of the impact evaluation criterion.

Doctoral Networks, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Staff Exchanges and COFUND 2027 call evaluation

Also for these calls there are some changes in the wording of the impact evaluation criterion (not applicable to COFUND). This part has been omitted: The magnitude and importance of the project’s contribution to the expected scientific, societal and economic impacts. In the priority order for ex aequo proposals the environmental considerations in line with the MSCA Green Charter has been deleted.

RAISE Doctoral Networks

In the part that summarises the main intervention areas (MSCA actions) additional reference has been made to the HE Horizontal Activities work programme part, which includes the RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science pilot (HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-03) that provide specific support to networks with primary focus on the use of AI in science. Applications are to be submitted through the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call (deadline 24 November 2026).