Notes on Policy - The 2025 MSCA Impact Report: Purpose and findings
In December 2025, at the European Parliament in Brussels, the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) launched its landmark report on the impact of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). Having contributed to this study, I witnessed the meticulous effort to synthesise thirty years of research excellence into a single narrative. This pivotal document now offers crucial insights into driving innovation and shaping the future of the European Research Area (ERA).
The rationale: Why impact matters now
The timing of this report was anything but accidental. As Europe begins to negotiate the architecture of the 10th Framework Programme (FP10), the research community faces a pivotal moment. Amidst shifting geopolitical alliances and economic uncertainty, impact has become the currency of policy debate.
While the MSCA have long been celebrated as the jewel in the crown of EU research funding, we realised that the program’s value was often discussed in narrow terms, focusing solely on individual training. Our rationale was to broaden this perspective. We wanted to demonstrate that the MSCA is not just a fellowship programme; it is a structural engine for European competitiveness, a standard-bearer for research integrity, and a primary driver of knowledge transfer across borders and sectors.
How the work was done: An evidence-based journey
Excellence, mobility and international collaboration sit at the heart of the Marie Skłodowska- Curie Actions (MSCA). Together, they translate into tangible academic, economic, technological and societal impact across Europe and beyond. In doing so, the MSCA directly supports the European Union’s ambition to remain a competitive, knowledge-driven and innovation- oriented economy. Building on these foundations, this report highlights the concrete ways in which the MSCA shapes academia, strengthens innovation ecosystems, and contributes to society at large.
At its core is evidence generated by the MCAA, highlighting the experience of a global community of more than 24,000 MSCA researchers. Insights from the MCAA Major Survey 2024, along with previous MCAA statements and consultations, ensure that the analysis reflects the real experiences, career paths and contributions of MSCA fellows across sectors and countries.
This community-based evidence is complemented by official programme data, including the MSCA end-of- fellowship evaluation questionnaires (Horizon 2020 - 2023 and 2024 updates), and the ex-post evaluation of Horizon 2020. To position the findings within the broader European policy debate, the report also draws on key strategic documents shaping the EU’s competitiveness agenda, including Heitor’s report, Draghi’s report, Letta’s report, the Warsaw Declaration, and the Competitiveness Compass. Together, these sources provide both quantitative indicators and qualitative insights. The drafting process was supported by an internal consultation with MCAA experts, helping to ensure that the conclusions reflect the latest insights and the lived realities of MSCA researchers.
What the report says: Some key findings
The report reveals a program that has fundamentally reshaped the European research landscape. Below, I report some of the most compelling insights.
A catalyst for careers. The MSCA delivers outstanding career outcomes: 95% of fellows are employed after their fellowship, with most continuing in research and innovation roles. Fellows consistently report strengthened career prospects and improved employability, including beyond academia.
The industry bridge. By engaging thousands of non-academic organisations, the MSCA closes the gap between discovery and application. Under Horizon 2020, €602 million supported research in the non-academic sector, reinforcing intersectoral mobility and innovation capacity.
Setting global standards. Since 1996, the programme has supported 150,000+ researchers, with around 40% coming from outside the EU. The MSCA strengthens Europe’s global attractiveness and supports balanced brain circulation across the European Research Area.
Resilience and competitiveness. In an era of global competition for talent, the MSCA remains Europe’s most powerful tool for attracting and retaining world-class researchers. It provides the stability and prestige necessary to keep Europe at the frontier of scientific discovery.
A call to action for the future
The report concludes with a clear strategic vision for FP10: the MSCA must remain a strong, autonomous, excellence-driven instrument with a substantially increased budget. Diluting its bottom-up nature would risk undermining precisely the flexibility and scientific ambition that have made the MSCA one of Europe’s most successful programmes.
As authors, our goal was to provide the MCAA community with a tool for advocacy. This report is a testament to the fact that when we invest in researchers, the impact isn’t just a line in a budget, it is the foundation of Europe’s future. We invite the entire MCAA community to engage with its findings, share its evidence, and help ensure that the MSCA continues to shape Europe’s knowledge, innovation, and competitiveness for decades to come.
