This is the edition of 2 October 2026. The dates and statuses below are as they stood on that day and may have changed since. Read the current edition.
European research funding spans a wide range of career stages and disciplinary contexts, and knowing which calls are on the horizon helps you plan your trajectory with more precision. This radar covers Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and ERC instruments, giving you a structured view of what is coming and when to act.
Of the five calls below, three are applied for by institutions or consortia, with individual positions recruited after the grant is awarded, and two are applied for directly by the individual researcher, together with a host organisation.
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026
Open, closes 24 November 2026. MSCA Doctoral Networks.
Who applies. Institutions or consortia apply. Individual positions are recruited openly after the grant is awarded.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks bring together universities, research institutes, and non-academic partners to design and deliver structured doctoral training across sectors and disciplines. The programme is designed to strengthen cooperation between participating organisations and to build doctoral candidates' capacity to translate research into broader impact. For researchers at an early stage of their doctoral journey, understanding which consortia are active in their field can shape where they look for funded positions once grants are awarded. The emphasis on inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary training makes these networks particularly relevant for candidates who want experience that extends beyond a single research environment.
Preparation step. Map the research groups, institutes, and companies in your field that have previously participated in Doctoral Networks, and begin following their vacancy announcements and project pages so you are well positioned to respond quickly when recruited positions are advertised after funding decisions are made.
Official topic page: HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01-01
ERC Consolidator Grant
Open, closes 12 January 2027. ERC Consolidator Grant.
Who applies. The individual researcher applies directly, together with a chosen host organisation.
The ERC Consolidator Grant is designed for researchers who are in the process of establishing or consolidating an independent research programme and can demonstrate evidence of research independence. The grant supports a substantial period of work and allows for additional funding to cover costs that are necessary to carry out the proposed research, giving principal investigators meaningful flexibility in designing their programme. For an early-career researcher approaching this stage, understanding the Consolidator Grant's expectations around independence and team leadership is essential groundwork. Tracking this call also helps researchers gauge the trajectory they need to build toward before a submission becomes realistic.
Preparation step. Draft a concise outline of a research programme you could credibly lead independently, noting where you already have evidence of independence such as publications, supervised students, or externally funded work, and identify a host organisation where you could realistically base the project before opening a conversation with potential hosts.
Official topic page: ERC-2027-COG
MSCA COFUND 2027
Opens 8 December 2026, closes 6 April 2027. MSCA COFUND (doctoral programmes).
Who applies. Institutions or consortia apply. Individual positions are recruited openly after the grant is awarded.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND for doctoral programmes co-funds existing or new doctoral schemes at participating organisations, with the goal of enriching those programmes through international, inter-sectoral, and interdisciplinary dimensions. The call places explicit emphasis on the quality and sustainability of research training and on building new approaches to research and innovation work. For a prospective doctoral candidate, knowing which institutions are seeking or holding COFUND grants helps identify programmes that offer structured, internationally oriented training environments. The focus on deeper and more diverse skills development signals that these programmes are designed to prepare candidates for a wide range of career paths.
Preparation step. Research universities and research institutes in your area of interest that have previously run COFUND doctoral programmes, follow their graduate school communications, and strengthen the elements of your profile, such as international experience or interdisciplinary coursework, that align with what these programmes typically seek in recruited candidates.
Official topic page: HORIZON-MSCA-2027-COFUND-01-01
MSCA Choose Europe for Science 2027
Opens 8 December 2026, closes 6 April 2027. MSCA COFUND (postdoctoral programmes).
Who applies. Institutions or consortia apply. Individual positions are recruited openly after the grant is awarded.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Choose Europe for Science targets postdoctoral researchers and is oriented toward building concrete career prospects and greater autonomy, with a particular emphasis on aligning institutional practices with the European Charter for Researchers and recent European frameworks for attracting and retaining research talent. The call also connects to the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, which signals that participating organisations will be expected to evaluate researchers in ways that go beyond traditional metrics. For a postdoctoral researcher thinking about where to build their next position, institutions funded through this instrument are committing to improved career accession and progression systems. The programme's focus on career stability makes it worth monitoring for the positions it will eventually generate.
Preparation step. Identify organisations in your field that have publicly committed to the European Charter for Researchers or the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, as these are the kinds of institutions likely to pursue this instrument, and track their postdoctoral vacancy pages so you can respond promptly when funded positions are advertised.
Official topic page: HORIZON-MSCA-2027-COFUND-02-01
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027
Opens 7 April 2027, closes 8 September 2027. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships.
Who applies. The individual researcher applies directly, together with a chosen host organisation.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships support individual postdoctoral researchers working with a host organisation, with outcomes focused on broadening research and transferable skills and on building capacity for international, inter-sectoral, and interdisciplinary work. The call also expects participating organisations to align working conditions with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers, which has practical implications for the quality of the fellowship environment. This is a directly researcher-led opportunity, making it one of the more autonomous funding routes available at the postdoctoral stage. Planning well ahead of the submission window gives you time to develop a compelling research proposal and to build a genuine working relationship with a prospective host.
Preparation step. Begin drafting the core research idea you would pursue during the fellowship, then reach out to one or two potential host organisations whose ongoing work complements your proposal, and verify the mobility rule and all eligibility conditions on the official topic page before investing significant time in the application.
Official topic page: HORIZON-MSCA-2027-PF-01-01
Deadlines, statuses, and call identifiers are drawn from the
EU Funding and Tenders Portal and were verified against it on the date shown above. Confirm each call's current status on its own topic page before you rely on it. These calls close at 17:00 Brussels time on their stated deadline. Clau is a free companion for doctoral candidates and early-career researchers that helps with the project text and application materials behind calls like these.