Commissioner Zaharieva gives speech supporting European research at Marie Curie Alumni annual conference

Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, has pointed out that the “European way of doing research” was rooted in openness, excellence, mobility and collaboration.

Zaharieva was giving a speech at the 2026 Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) Annual Conference on 22/04/2026, celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MCSA).

She highlighted scientific freedom in which research priorities are determined by scientists rather than politicians, mobility without sacrifice in which researchers are empowered to move across borders without losing essential rights. She also stressed the strength of the EU’s talent: despite having only 5% of the global population, it hosts 25% of the world’s researchers.

Zaharieva noted that the MSCA has evolved from a small fellowship in the 1990s into a massive programme that has supported 150,000 scientists, including 23 Nobel Prize laureates. It currently supports roughly 8,000 researchers annually, with 93% of fellows securing employment within a year of completion.

She discussed the…