To boost researchers’ careers in all fields in science and humanities.

To offer researchers the opportunity to upgrade and diversify their skills, join established research teams and enhance their
career prospects.

To strengthen knowledge transfer in structured training programmes, and promote transnational mobility of researchers.

• Researchers
• Universities
• Research centres
• Bodies responsible for funding research training and companies.

The 27 EU Member States and countries associated with the EU’s seventh framework programme.
Moreover, researchers and organisations from non-EU countries are eligible for some of the actions.

Within a network of public research institutes and commercial partners (including SMEs), young researchers are trained on individual, personalised research projects, complemented by structured training modules in other relevant skills and competences - including management and financing of research projects and programmes, intellectual property rights, means of exploiting research results, entrepreneurship, ethical aspects and communication.

These help in the acquisition of new skills or experience in other sectors for experienced researchers, through funding for advanced training and career development, including in scientific skills, such as with new techniques or instruments, or in preparing proposals to request funding or patent applications, or management of research projects. Grants must involve transnational mobility within Europe.

These provide funding for research project costs (salaries, travel, consumables, patent application, etc.) to assist professional (re)integration in Europe and to support long-term research employment for researchers who have benefited from training within a Marie Curie Action.

These provide funding for research project costs (salaries, travel, consumables, patent application, etc.) to assist professional (re)integration in Europe of European researchers who have carried out research outside Europe.

These actions co-fund regional, national and international fellowship programmes for research training and career development. Co-funded programmes must be for post-doctoral level fellowships or more experienced researchers, and must include transnational mobility.

These provide funding (salary, research-related costs) for advanced training for experienced European researchers conducting high-level research in a university, research centre or company in a non-EU country.

These provide funding (salary, research-related costs) for researchers from non-European countries working on projects in a host institution in Europe.

This provides funding (living and travel costs) for staff in universities, research centres and related public sector organisations to spend time in research organisations in partner countries outside the EU (countries with an EU science and technology agreement or neighbouring countries) as part of a coordinated exchange programme between European and non-European research organisations to strengthen long-term cooperation.

These provide funding for intersectoral mobility: secondments of staff between public research institutes and commercial partners (including SMEs) working together on joint research projects and recruitment of experienced researchers from outside the partnership.

This is for the funding of one-night events offering to the public ‘edutainment’ activities which allow visitors to improve their knowledge about researchers and research.

The participation in the Marie Curie Actions is made via calls for proposals, and through individual applications to open peer reviewed competitions available here.

Foundation for Science and Technology
Ana Margarida Santos
Phone: +351 213 924 446
E-mail: anamargarida.santos@fct.mctes.pt

Information adapted from the Publication “What's in it for me?” – EU Opportunities in education, culture and youth. Edition: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010