Marie Curie Host Fellowships for Early Stage research Training (EST)

To help develop the European Research Area (ERA), the Commission launched the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6). This programme runs from 2002 to 2006 and is the financial tool with which the Commission will put research policy into practice and also provide the necessary financial support for scientific and technological development projects.

Within FP6, the Human Resources and Mobility (HRM) activity consists of a coherent set of actions, based on promoting the mobility of researchers. These will be aimed at the development and transfer of research competencies, the consolidation and widening of researchers’ career prospects, and the promotion of excellence in European research.

The objective of the Marie Curie Host Fellowships for Early Stage Research Training (ESTs) is to promote the development of human resources that constitute the underlying raw material on which research capabilities are built. It also promotes the mobility of researchers between European countries and to Europe from outside. The action is targeted at the training of researchers at the early stages of their research careers. It aims to contribute to a strong structuring effect on European research systems and to particularly encourage these researchers to continue to pursue a long term European research career, paying attention to the involvement of industry and SMEs (Small and Medium size Enterprises). The scheme also addresses the possibility of training in aspects that may widen the researcher's career development (e.g. research management, languages, ethics, presentation skills etc).