The MCAA calls for a researcher-centred FP10

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) has published a policy statement on the 10th European Union Framework Programme (FP10), outlining key recommendations to ensure it delivers on its ambition and empowers the research and innovation (R&I) community.
 

The statement titled “Securing Europe's R&I Horizon: Call for a Researcher-Centred Framework Programme” represents the MCAA’s latest contribution to ongoing discussions on the future of European research policy. It is a direct response to the European Commission’s formal Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal published on 16 July 2025, as well as to emerging elements of the forthcoming FP10 currently under internal consideration.

Building on its previous policy positions, the MCAA calls for a robust, independent, and researcher-centred FP10, highlighting its vital role in empowering the R&I community to address global challenges while securing Europe’s strategic autonomy and maintaining its leadership in science, technology, and innovation.

While the MCAA welcomes several key aspects of the European Commission’s proposals, such as the sustained support for the European Research Council (ERC) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), it has also identified several areas of concern that must be addressed, including the budget.

“The proposed FP10 budget of €175 billion, while an increase, remains significantly below the €220 billion recommended by the Heitor Report. This potential gap is particularly concerning for programmes like the MSCA,” the statement reads.

To ensure FP10’s long-term success and impact, the MCAA outlines key recommendations:  

• Safeguarding FP10’s autonomy and excellence by maintaining its independence, preserving bottom-up funding, and protecting the ERC and MSCA governance.
• Ensuring sufficient investment in the MSCA by allocating €25 billion to meet demand, adjust for inflation, and support Europe’s growing research workforce.
• Strengthening researcher careers and mobility through full implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and measures to address precarity.
• Fostering an inclusive European Research Area (ERA) by reinforcing widening measures, supporting transition countries, and tackling brain drain.
• Promoting openness and responsible international cooperation, with proportional research security and sustained investment in Open Science and diamond open access. 
   

Read the policy statement
 

About the MCAA

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) is a global network of researchers who have benefited from or are benefiting from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The MCAA supports and contributes to advancing knowledge for a global, diverse, and informed society. Its primary focus is to support its members’ career development, offer networking opportunities, and contribute to shaping research and innovation policies in the EU. Currently, the MCAA has over 23,000 members from 150+ countries, at all career stages and from diverse research fields.