by
Ahmet Faruk İpek | Jul 25, 2025
In 2025, the European Commission launched the “Choose Europe for Science” initiative—marking a strategic move to position Europe as a more attractive hub for researchers worldwide. This initiative is not merely a funding scheme; it represents a powerful vision in which scientific freedom is safeguarded, career security is strengthened, and innovation is actively supported.
Dear Researchers,
In 2025, the European Commission launched the “Choose Europe for Science” initiative—marking a strategic move to position Europe as a more attractive hub for researchers worldwide. This initiative is not merely a funding scheme; it represents a powerful vision in which scientific freedom is safeguarded, career security is strengthened, and innovation is actively supported.
The European Union is implementing this vision through four core objectives:
- Legally safeguarding academic freedom in research,
- Attracting international researchers to Europe through a new €500 million support package,
- Removing structural barriers to innovation,
- Establishing sustainable collaborations between researchers and institutions.
To achieve these goals, new and impactful instruments have been introduced under the Horizon Europe programme:
MSCA Choose Europe Pilot Call
Expected to launch in the fall of 2025, this special call will support postdoctoral researchers through projects offering long-term employment opportunities, with a total budget of €22.5 million. With an estimated monthly salary of €6,700 and additional career development benefits, the programme aims to make pursuing a research career in Europe more attractive.
ERC Super Grants / ERC+
Developed under the ERC Advanced Grant (AdG) scheme, this new funding mechanism provides start-up support for researchers relocating to Europe to establish laboratories and research teams. Additionally, ERC+, a new long-term (7-year) and large-scale funding programme, will be open to individual researchers at all career stages from EU Member States and Associated Countries.
EURAXESS Platform
All MSCA and ERC-supported positions will be published on the EURAXESS platform. Coordinated by TÜBİTAK in Türkiye, this platform will allow researchers to easily access and apply for funding opportunities and open positions: www.euraxess.org.tr
A Strategic Opportunity for Türkiye
This initiative offers a significant opportunity for researchers and institutions in Türkiye to strengthen their ties with the European research landscape. While long-term career pathways are being created for postdoctoral researchers, applications to MSCA and ERC calls are strongly encouraged.
In parallel, national support mechanisms such as TÜBİTAK’s 2232 and 2236 programmes facilitate the return of Turkish researchers from abroad, promoting not a brain drain, but a sustainable brain circulation.
In the long term, this initiative has the potential to:
- Deepen Türkiye’s integration into the European R&I ecosystem,
- Increase the volume of high-impact publications,
- Further strengthen Türkiye’s presence in the European research landscape.
Europe offers researchers not just a job, but a meaningful, sustainable, and impactful scientific journey.
🔗 For more information: Choose Europe for Science
Kind regards,
ITU International Projects Unit