The European Commission has published a new study entitled ‘Evaluation study of the European framework programmes for research and innovation for excellent science’.
This study assesses the impact of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) schemes under Horizon 2020. In particular, it focuses on how the MSCA schemes have contributed to reinforcing and extending the excellence of the Union’s science base and consolidating the European Research Area, with the final goal of making the EU’s R&I system more competitive on a global scale.
Key findings from this study include:
- Respondents value the MSCA schemes for their bottom-up approach, which leaves researchers the freedom to create their own research project in any research area. 75% of respondents stated that participation in this programme enabled scientific breakthroughs and higher-risk research, particularly in emerging research areas;
- Respondents praised the training and career development opportunities provided under the MSCA schemes;
- MSCA significantly contributed to retaining talented researchers in the EU, attracting foreign talent and encouraging the return of talented researchers;
- MSCA also had a structural impact on organisations by enhancing the quality of provided supervision, training and career opportunities, and high-standard working conditions; and
- MSCA also led to better and higher interdisciplinary and/or international collaborations, and to a higher quality of performed research projects.
The full study, including an executive summary, is available on the MSCA website.