Applications open for Making Europe a Global Magnet for Talent and Skilled Workers

Deadline: 23-Sep-2026

Horizon Europe topic HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-06 funds research and innovation actions that identify how to attract and retain international students, researchers, and high-skilled workers in the EU and Associated Countries. The call is single-stage, has a €10 million budget, expects projects of about €3 million to €3.3 million, and opens on 12 May 2026 with a deadline of 23 September 2026.

This Horizon Europe call supports research and innovation actions on international talent mobility, attraction, and retention. It aims to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness by improving the EU’s ability to attract and keep talented students, researchers, and high-skilled workers from outside the EU.

The topic sits under HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-06 and is designed to generate evidence that can inform better policy, migration pathways, and retention strategies across Europe and the European Research Area.

Key facts

• Programme: Horizon Europe.

• Topic code: HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-06.

• Action type: Research and Innovation Action.

• Total budget: €10 million.

• Expected grant size: about €3 million to €3.3 million.

• Submission format: Single-stage.

• Opening date: 12 May 2026.

• Deadline: 23 September 2026.

• Eligible applicants: legal entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, non-associated third countries, and international organisations, subject to Horizon Europe rules.

What the call is about

The topic asks a central policy question: how can Europe become a more attractive and sustainable destination for global talent?

It focuses on:

• International students.

• Researchers.

• High-skilled workers.

Projects are expected to study what drives mobility decisions and what policies help people stay, integrate, and contribute over time.

Core research themes

Proposals may examine:

• Factors that influence destination choice.

• Attraction and retention policies.

• Migration pathways for skilled talent.

• Mobility schemes and administrative simplification.

• Medium- and long-term retention strategies.

• Talent Partnerships.

• Labour market integration for humanitarian migrants.

• Gender and disability dimensions.

• Collaboration across education, research, industry, and civil society.

Evidence the call is seeking

The call encourages policy-relevant evidence on what shapes international talent mobility. That may include:

• Academic quality.

• Career opportunities.

• Cultural attractiveness.

• Political context.

• Funding and scholarship availability.

• Wages and benefits.

• Quality of life.

• Family reunification options.

• Access to innovation ecosystems.

Proposals are expected to use rigorous quantitative methods and may also include qualitative research or approaches from the social sciences and humanities.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants include:

• Universities.

• Research institutions.

• Industry partners.

• Social partners.

• Non-academic organisations.

• International organisations.

• Legal entities in EU Member States, Associated Countries, and non-associated third countries.

The call also allows affiliated entities, associated partners, and certain entities without legal personality where Horizon Europe rules permit.

What strong proposals should include

A competitive proposal should usually show:

• A clear research question on talent attraction or retention.

• A strong evidence base and quantitative methodology.

• Policy relevance for the EU and Associated Countries.

• A plan for inclusive analysis of gender and disability.

• Collaboration between research and non-academic actors.

• A realistic route to dissemination and policy uptake.

How the call works

1. Define the talent group.

   • Choose whether the project focuses on students, researchers, high-skilled workers, or a combination.

2. Frame the policy problem.

   • Identify the mobility, recruitment, or retention challenge the project will address.

3. Build the research design.

   • Use quantitative analysis, with optional qualitative and SSH methods.

4. Design a multi-actor consortium.

   • Include universities, industry, social partners, and other relevant organisations.

5. Prepare the proposal.

   • Submit one full application in the single-stage process.

6. Align with EU priorities.

   • Show how results support competitiveness, innovation, and talent retention in Europe.

Why it matters

Europe’s research strength and innovation capacity depend on attracting and retaining global talent. If skilled people face barriers such as bureaucracy, weak career pathways, or poor integration, they may choose other destinations.

This call matters because it seeks practical evidence for better policy. That evidence can help the EU and Associated Countries design smarter visas, better mobility schemes, and more effective retention strategies.

Common mistakes and tips

• Mistake: Treating the topic as generic migration research.

  • Tip: Keep the focus on highly skilled mobility, research talent, and innovation capacity.

• Mistake: Using weak or purely descriptive methods.

  • Tip: Include robust quantitative analysis and, where useful, complementary qualitative work.

• Mistake: Ignoring policy relevance.

  • Tip: Show how findings will influence attraction and retention policy.

• Mistake: Leaving out non-academic partners.

  • Tip: Build a consortium that includes industry, social partners, or other end users.

• Mistake: Overlooking inclusion.

  • Tip: Address gender and disability dimensions explicitly.

FAQ

1. What is the main goal of this Horizon Europe topic?

   • To improve Europe’s ability to attract and retain talented international students, researchers, and high-skilled workers.

2. How much funding is available?

   • The total budget is €10 million, with expected project funding around €3 million to €3.3 million.

3. Is the call single-stage?

   • Yes, it uses a single-stage submission process.

4. When does the call open and close?

   • It opens on 12 May 2026 and closes on 23 September 2026.

5. Who is eligible to apply?

   • Legal entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, non-associated third countries, and international organisations, subject to Horizon Europe rules.

6. What kinds of research methods are expected?

   • Rigorous quantitative methods are expected, with optional qualitative and social sciences and humanities approaches.

7. What kinds of partners are encouraged?

   • Universities, research organisations, industry, social partners, and non-academic organisations.

Conclusion

This Horizon Europe call is designed for projects that produce usable evidence on how Europe can win and keep global talent. The strongest proposals will connect rigorous research to practical policy solutions, inclusive labour market integration, and long-term competitiveness.

For more information, visit European Commission.