What MSCA has for you?
Discover the most consolidated research training scheme in the European Union
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If you are applying to MSCA-PF, try your knowledge of the call and the template following the self-evaluation quiz that innoScope has designed for you
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MSCA in Horizon Europe
Discover your funding options
MSCA has become the Union’s reference programme for doctoral education and postdoctoral training. Under Horizon Europe, it keeps the same philosophy that has distinguished it since its creation back in 1996. However, it has introduced some novelties in terms of eligibility, resubmission options or incorporation of open science practices to the research methodologies among others, that proposers must master to succeed with their application.
Postdoctoral fellowships
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) aim to enhance the creativity and innovation capacity of those researchers who wish to diversify their competences and upscale their profile working with outstanding research groups around the globe.
The fellowships are quite prestigious, and the awarded researchers will increase their international visibility and reputation. They may be a good starting point to earn experience and knowledge before applying for an ERC grant.
The scheme strongly encourages the reinforcement of the links and the transfer of knowledge to the non-academic sector, including the improvement of employability options beyond Academia. For these reason earning soft skills through advanced training, international and intersectoral mobility is a must.
If the host institution is located in a Widening country or region, researchers will in addition have the opportunity to opt to an ERA fellowship if they are not successful in the main call. The Commission also awards the Seal of Excellence to those proposals that were not granted but reached a score over 85%.
Overall, postdoctoral fellowships are the perfect scheme for those researchers with a relevant trajectory that wish to maximise their scientific profile while boosting their career options.
Doctoral Networks
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks (DN) aim to respond to the new training needs that are emerging in the academic and industrial sectors. This scheme is ideal to attract young talent that wishes to develop their professional career in novel research areas, either in or out Academia.
Proposals aim to improve their long-term employability through the implementation of a doctoral research and training programme where the recruited doctoral candidates are provided with an innovative set of skills and knowledge through international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary (3i) activities.
Proposals for doctoral networks can reflect existing partnerships among the participating organisations.
This is the reason why this is an ideal scheme for networks already collaborating either from an institutional point of view, such as
Universities Alliances, but also for existing and previous projects or proposals (COST Actions, RIA actions, etc.).
Staff exchanges
This scheme is the ideal to develop sustainable collaborative projects between different organisations from the academic and non-academic sectors.
Researchers but also administrative staff, research managers and PhD students can benefit from these projects. This makes it an ideal way to exchange research but also good management practices.
This scheme is highly complementary to other research calls such as Widening projects and can be a good basis to establish sustainable links among partners.
Cofund Actions
Institutions with the capacity to fund doctoral or postdoctoral research programmes will be able to share their financial burdens with the European Commission through this scheme.
The proposers must demonstrate that the institutions participating in the project will be able to provide researchers with the high-quality standards of MSCA programme, including robust hosting arrangements, a variety of training and career development options and a dedicated supervision scheme, all adapted to the implementing mode selected.
MSCA Resources
Reference materials for your proposal
If you are in the process of drafting a proposal, there are several sources where you can access relevant information and guidance to address the template and understand the Commission's requirements.
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