The European Commission has announced new calls in 2023 and 2024 to support researchers’ training, skills and career development and organisations under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
The calls follow the adoption of the Horizon Europe 2023-2024 work programme. With a total budget of €6.6 billion over 2021-2027, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions support researchers from all over the world, at all stages of their careers and in all disciplines.
They also benefit institutions by supporting excellent doctoral, postdoctoral programmes and collaborative research and innovation projects, boosting their global attractiveness and visibility and fostering cooperation beyond academia, including with big companies and SMEs.
The MSCA will provide over €886 million in 2023 and €902 million in 2024, covering the five main actions of the work programme.
Doctoral Networks
Doctoral Networks allow implementing doctoral programmes to train doctoral candidates in academia and other sectors, including industry and businesses. The scheme provides specific incentives to set up Industrial Doctorates and Joint Doctorates.
The 2023 Doctoral Networks call will have a budget of €434.8 million. It will open on 30 May 2023 and close on 28 November 2023.
The 2024 Doctoral Networks call will have a budget of €451.2 million. It will open on 29 May 2024 and close on 27 November 2024.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Postdoctoral Fellowships enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and wishing to acquire new skills through advanced training and international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility.
The funding will be available to researchers ready to pursue frontier research and innovation projects in Europe and worldwide, including in the non-academic sector.
The 2023 Postdoctoral Fellowships call will have a budget of €260.5 million. It will open on 12 April 2023 and close on 13 September 2023.
The 2024 Postdoctoral Fellowships call will have a budget of €270.8 million. It will open on 10 April 2024 and close on 11 September 2024.
Staff Exchanges
Staff Exchanges provides support to develop international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary sustainable collaboration in research and innovation through exchanging staff. The scheme helps turn ideas into innovative products, services or processes.
The 2023 Staff Exchanges call will have a budget of €78.5 million. It will open on 5 October 2023 and close on 28 February 2024.
The 2024 Staff Exchanges call will have a budget of €81.2 million. It will open on 10 October 2024 and close on 5 March 2025.
COFUND
COFUND co-finances new or existing doctoral programmes and postdoctoral fellowship schemes in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries with the aim of spreading best practices of the MSCA.
This includes international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary research training, as well as international and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of their career.
The 2023 COFUND call will have a budget of €96.6 million. It will open on 10 October 2023 and close on 8 February 2024.
The 2024 COFUND call will have a budget of €99.3 million. It will open on 8 October 2024 and close on 6 February 2025.
MSCA & Citizens
MSCA & Citizens brings research closer to students, families and the public at large mainly through the European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools.
These initiatives
- increase awareness of the impact of researchers’ work on citizens’ lives, society and economy
- boost public recognition of science and research
- aim to raise the interest of young people in research and scientific careers
The 2023 MSCA & Citizens call will award a budget of €15.4 million to cover the 2024 and 2025 editions of the European Researchers’ Night. It will open on 20 June 2023 and close on 25 October 2023.
No call is foreseen in 2024.
Feedback to Policy
Under the new work programme, the MSCA will also fund a “Feedback to Policy” initiative to
- make stronger thematic links between MSCA projects
- raise visibility of their contribution to key EU policy priorities
- gather stakeholder feedback on ways to maximise the programme’s impact
The 2023 Feedback to Policy call will award a budget of €2 million. It will open on 7 March 2023 and close on 6 June 2023.
Source: European Commission I Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (https://bit.ly/3FlCaIL)