Call from 17 European organisations to "refrain from introducing directionality into the MSCA"

17 European organisations, led by the universities associations Coimbra Group and Yerun, and EU-Life, the association of research centres in the life sciences, "call on the European Commission and member states to refrain from introducing directionality into the MSCA. This proposed shift is not only ill-timed, but also fundamentally misguided", they state on 24/06/2025.

They explain that the European Commission presented a proposal to the Horizon Europe Programme Committee Configuration MSCA on the possible introduction of directionality into the MSCA. This proposal foresees the launch of targeted calls aligned with the EU's political priorities, along with the use of top-up funding from the challenge-based components of the Framework Programme to support projects in strategically defined fields and disciplines.

"Although the proposal states that excellence will remain a central criterion, such a shift would fundamentally alter the MSCA’s well-proven model towards a more top-down structure", state the organisations.

"We consider this proposal to be deeply concerning. Scientific…