The results of the Mutual Learning Exercise (MLE) on Research Careers, an initiative to support more attractive and sustainable research careers across Europe, are now available. The MLE, coordinated by the European Commission, brought together policymakers and experts from across the EU to exchange best practices and generate actionable recommendations aligned with the Council Recommendation C/2023/1640 on a European framework to attract and retain R&I and entrepreneurial talents.
With over 2 million researchers working across Europe, strengthening research career paths is critical to ensuring a competitive and resilient research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem. The final reports and findings of the MLE offer practical guidance for national reforms and implementation of the new Charter for Researchers, one of the central pillars of the Council Recommendation adopted in December 2023.
About the MLE
The year-long Mutual Learning Exercise, which concluded in May 2025, served as a collaborative platform for EU Member States to address key challenges in research careers. Structured around four core topics, it aimed to foster cross-border policy learning and promote coherent frameworks that improve job conditions, mobility, and professional growth opportunities for researchers.
Key findings and outputs
The final report and a series of thematic reports are now published and accessible online. These documents provide comprehensive insights, good practices, and eight key recommendations to support national-level reforms and improve researcher career trajectories across Europe.
The four thematic areas explored in the MLE include:
- Recruitment, Working Conditions, Career Development and Progression: Strategies to increase transparency, stability, and mobility in research careers.
- Skills and Inter-sectoral, Interdisciplinary and Interoperable Careers: Guidance on equipping researchers with versatile skillsets to navigate academic and non-academic environments.
- Enabling Conditions for Attractive R&I Systems and Balanced Circulation of Talents: Policies that foster open and inclusive research ecosystems while promoting talent mobility.
- Policy and Legal Frameworks & Implementation of the Charter for Researchers: Measures to support national uptake of the new Charter and create a strong legal foundation for career development.
Access the results
All outputs of the MLE are now publicly available, including:
Mutual Learning Exercise on Research Careers – Factsheet
Summary article – Towards more attractive and sustainable research careers in Europe
FIRST thematic report – Recruitment, working conditions, career development and progression
SECOND thematic report – Skills and Intersectoral, Interdisciplinary, and Interoperable Careers
These resources are intended to inform national policy, inspire institutional change, and support the EU’s broader goal of building a world-class R&I talent ecosystem.
