Across Europe, researchers often face uncertain career paths, limited mobility, and inconsistent recognition of their skills. The European project SECURE2 aims to address these challenges by turning policy into practice.
The four-year SECURE2 (Sustainable Careers for Research Empowerment 2) project, of which the MCAA is a partner, held its kick-off meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 15–16 September 2025.
By implementing the European Research Career Framework (RCF) across research-performing and research-funding organisations (RPOs and RFOs), the project seeks to create a more attractive, equitable, transparent, and sustainable research environment.
Building on the achievements of its predecessor, SECURE (2023–2025), SECURE2 is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. It focuses on testing and institutionalising the RCF to help reform recruitment, training, mobility, and career development practices across Europe.
Turning research career policy into practice
The SECURE2 project aims to transform the European RCF into actionable institutional reforms.
Through pilot actions, long-term trials, and tailored interventions, SECURE2 partners will identify and test practical solutions that strengthen research career pathways and promote Open Science principles.
To achieve this, the project is driven by five core objectives:
1. Create talent ecosystems for research positions to promote attractive and sustainable careers.
2. Implement standards for attractive research careers across European institutions.
3. Enhance early-career researchers’ competencies and employability through research and innovation synergies.
4. Co-develop and implement self-tailored RCF Action Plans for inclusive and sustainable research careers.
5. Establish a sustainable mutual learning process to increase institutional capacity for Open Science.
The project will also focus on four key actions to translate these objectives into practice:
-
Implement SECURE’s Toolkit: Apply over 80 practical actions divided into 8 areas from the initial project to improve recruitment, training, and mobility.
-
Conduct long-term trials: Test interventions over two years in at least nine European institutions to evaluate real-world effects.
-
Implement custom pilots: Co-design institutional Action Plans (APs) guided by the SECURE RCF Actions Selection Tool.
-
Foster research ecosystems: Encourage collaboration between researchers, managers, and administrators to ensure relevance and scalability.
A European collaboration driving career reform
The SECURE2 consortium brings together 18 organisations from 13 countries, including nine EU Member States. It includes policy experts, training providers, research-performing organisations, and research associations.
This diversity ensures that the project’s objectives are both ambitious and realistic, reflecting different institutional contexts and levels of HR accreditation.
The project is coordinated by the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Portugal.
How the MCAA supports sustainable research careers
As a key partner in SECURE2, the MCAA contributes to creating inclusive and sustainable research ecosystems. It will connect early-career researchers with career development opportunities and foster partnerships with industry.
Moreover, the Association will contribute to dissemination and advocacy activities, ensuring that project outcomes are shared widely and supported through policy briefs.
“Building on past successes of the SECURE project, SECURE2 turns policy into practice by institutionalising the European Research Career Framework. The MCAA will ensure researchers' lived experiences will translate ERA structural policies into tangible improvements in stability and mobility, bridging the gap between high-level strategy and the real-world empowerment of Europe’s research talent,” says Mostafa Moonir Shawrav, Executive Director of the MCAA.
The MCAA will also support a Final Closing Summit to mainstream the RCF by showcasing the project’s impact on research careers and gathering feedback from the wider stakeholder community.
Looking ahead
SECURE2 marks a significant step towards institutionalising fair and sustainable research careers across Europe.
By bridging policy and practice, it contributes to the European Research Area’s vision of a more inclusive, transparent, and mobile research ecosystem.
Stay tuned to the MCAA’s communication channels for updates on SECURE2 activities, calls for participation, and policy developments shaping the future of research careers.
