Explained: How the MSCA is close to achieving gender balance

02 Jun 2026 | News

Insiders say inclusive policies and an early career focus are the reason nearly half of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions awards go to women

Photo credits: Annelieke Bosdijk / Unsplash

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fund a higher proportion of women than any other parts of the EU’s Framework Programme for research and innovation. Insiders and former beneficiaries of Horizon Europe’s researcher training and mobility scheme tell us why.

Five years into Horizon Europe, women account for 44.4% of all successful applicants to the MSCA, up from 42.1% in Horizon 2020. The highest percentage, 46.5%, is in the Cofund action, which supports regional, national and international programmes for training and career development. Next come the doctoral networks at 45.8%, the staff exchanges at 44.0% and the postdoctoral fellowships at 43.2%.

Overall, the highest number of researchers participating in the MSCA came from Spain, of which 1,406 were men and 1,362 were women. Italy recorded 1,316 men and 1,127 women, and France 1,133 men and 925 women.