Birmingham celebrates European research fellowships success

The University of Birmingham’s European research success continues with 22 Marie Curie fellows set to join its research teams in 2021.

Research leaders made successful applications for fellows in a range of areas, including Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Biosciences, Earth Sciences, Psychology, Medicine, Music and Law.

Birmingham’s success in the latest round of Marie Curie appointments illustrates the potential for post-Brexit European research collaboration, given that the UK has Associated Country status for the new EU framework programme Horizon Europe (2021-2027).

The new status means that Birmingham researchers – along with their UK peers - can apply to most EU programmes including European Research Council and Marie-Curie grants, as well as collaborative projects.

Professor Tim Softley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Birmingham, commented: “The University of Birmingham has had some great results with the Marie Curie fellowships and we continue to be a major centre for attracting fellows.

“The road ahead will not be easy, but we are encouraging our researchers to build on our excellent foundation of European partnerships and take full advantage of the opportunities afforded by upcoming Horizon Europe research calls.

“We are a global university with a civic heart. It is important that we continue to work with our European partners to deliver research collaborations that change people’s lives for the better across Europe and beyond.”

The UK’s Associated Country status is subject to ratification of the overall deal and finalisation of Horizon Europe Programme regulations, but UK researchers will be able to take part in the first funding calls in April for ERC Starting and Consolidator grants.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are a set of major research fellowships created by the European Union and European Commission to support research in the European Research Area. They are among Europe's most competitive and prestigious research and innovation fellowships.

• For more information or interviews, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0)782 783 2312. For out of hours media enquiries, please call: +44 (0) 7789 921 165.
• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.