Marie Curie

Budget: €4.7 billion (2007 - 2013)

We need highly trained and qualified researchers in order to improve the well-being of our citizens and increase economic growth. 

What's the benefit for citizens?

In order to compete globally we need more people to follow a career in research and to then provide them with the foundations for an open labour market. Therefore, Europe must be transformed into an attractive continent that supports innovation, knowledge creation and encourages researchers to stay.

During FP7 a series of EU research funded actions will support the on-going training, research and mobility of highly qualified scientists within Europe and the rest of the world. By meeting the above objectives, we will encourage the proliferation of centres of excellence in the EU and their contribution in new areas of research and technology.

What's the benefit for researchers?

Building on the successful experience of the Marie Curie actions, the “People” programme will improve the human potential in European research and development by covering all stages of a researcher's professional life from initial training to lifelong learning and career development.

The following types of actions are planned during FP7:

• Initial training of researchers will be offered through the Marie Curie Networks which will improve their research skills and help them join established research teams. In parallel, complementary training will enhance their career prospects in both public and private sectors.
• Lifelong training and career development through individual fellowships and co-financing programmes at international, national and regional level. These offer experienced researchers the opportunity to acquire new skills, enhance their mobility and re-integrate them into research.
• An international dimension to be addressed through international outgoing and incoming fellowships aiming to increase research talent outside Europe and fostering mutually beneficial research collaboration with researchers from outside Europe. The activity will also include measures to counterbalance "brain drain" and create networks of European researchers working abroad.
• Specific actions will be implemented to support the creation of a genuine European labour market for researchers, such as the removing of obstacles to mobility and enhancing their career perspectives. Public institutions will be offered incentives to promote the mobility, quality and profile of their researchers, as well as awards in order to improve the public awareness of Marie Curie actions and their objectives.

What's the benefit for industry and SMEs?

The participation of industry and SMEs is foreseen through all Marie Curie actions. Industry involvement will be strongly supported through actions directed at the initial training of researchers. In parallel another action will aim to build long term co-operation between academia, industry and SMEs. The objective is to stimulate mobility between sectors and increase knowledge sharing through joint research partnerships. The recruitment of experienced researchers to the partnership will be reinforced by staff secondments between sectors, and through the organisation of events.

Information from the “FP7 Factsheets” provided courtesy of the EC’s DG Research.

» Initial training
» Lifelong training
» Industry-academia
» International dimensions
» Specific support actions