Celebrating the 157th anniversary of Marie Skłodowska-Curie’s birth: a vision of science, discovery, and European collaboration

Published: 7 Nov 2024

Celebrating the 157th anniversary of Marie Skłodowska-Curie's birth: a vision of science, discovery, and European collaboration

The groundbreaking achievements and lasting legacy of Marie Skłodowska-Curie continue to inspire the European Union in its support to researchers and its commitment to research excellence, innovation, and international cooperation.

On 7 November, we celebrate the 157th anniversary of the birth of Marie Skłodowska-Curie, one of the most influential figures and a pioneer who reshaped our understanding of science.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme carries forward her vision of excellence. It strengthens Europe's competitiveness and research and innovation capacity by supporting researchers in their training, skills and career development, and fostering mobility across disciplines and socioeconomic sectors.

Empowering future generations of researchers

Launched in 1996, the MSCA has become a widely recognised EU flagship programme for researchers at all stages of their career, with a strong focus on early-stage researchers.

More than 150 000 researchers have participated in the programme - including 20 Nobel laureates. Many of MSCA researchers have had the chance to work under the direct supervision of MSCA-backed Nobel Prize laureates. Others have received notable awards for their MSCA-supported pioneering work.

Dr. Anne L'Huillier, 2023 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics and former MSCA beneficiary, shares how MSCA support early in her career helped shape her research path.

"The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) were crucial at the beginning of my career in Sweden. [...] Receiving support from MSCA to train and supervise doctoral and postdoctoral fellows within a network was very important for me. [...] I think the MSCA have helped a lot to increase networking and communication among research actors."

Dr. Rana Sanyal, recipient of the 2024 European Women Innovator Prize, credits the MSCA with playing a transformative role in her career .

"When I needed it most, the MSCA empowered me with my most precious core value - 'courage'. My Marie Curie grant, for example, served as a vital resource for my newly established independent research lab at Boğaziçi University. Being the first researcher with a Marie Curie reintegration grant project funded in Türkiye not only marked a significant milestone in my career and research but also served as an inspiration for future researchers."

Continuing the legacy of excellence and global collaboration

Celebrating Marie Skłodowska-Curie's enduring legacy, we also recognise the far-reaching impact of the MSCA programme in strengthening Europe's competitiveness and supporting global scientific excellence.

This year, the MSCA further expanded its global reach through renewed collaboration with the United Kingdom under Horizon Europe and new co-funding mechanisms with Brazil and India via the MSCA Staff Exchanges.

These strategic efforts facilitate the exchange of knowledge and encourage collaboration across borders, reinforcing Europe's role as a leader in international scientific cooperation and advancing innovative solutions that benefit both researchers and society.