MSCA COFUND for Doctoral Candidates or Postdoctoral Researchers

The aim of the action is to spread the best practices of the MSCA including international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary research training, as well as international and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of their career, deeper and more diverse set of research-related and transferable skills and competences, improved employability and career prospects both within academia and beyond, new mind-sets and approaches to R&I work forged through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary experience, enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers as well as with the general public that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact, enhanced quality and sustainability of research training, increased global attractiveness, visibility and reputation of the participating organisation(s), stronger R&I capacity and output among participating organisations, increased contribution of the participating organisations to the local, regional and/or national socio-economic ecosystems, and regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations.

The action supports new or existing doctoral and postdoctoral programmes that enhance human resources in research and innovation at regional, national, or international level through co-funding under MSCA COFUND. Proposed programmes may be completely open to all research disciplines or may focus on specific disciplines, particularly when aligned with national or regional Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation, while still allowing reasonable flexibility for researchers to define their research topics. with an indicative budget of EUR 105.46 million (TBC).

The MSCA co-funding is provided as a COFUND allowance per researcher-month, and funding synergies with Cohesion Policy Funds and other European Union funding sources are strongly encouraged. Each recruited researcher must have a Career Development Plan jointly established with their supervisor at the start of recruitment, covering research objectives, training and career needs, transferable skills, teaching activities, publication planning, and participation in conferences and public engagement activities, with updates within 18 months.

Doctoral programmes supported under this action provide research training leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and are based on the EU Principles on Innovative Doctoral Training. These programmes are expected to include substantial training modules addressing transferable skills, including digital skills such as generative AI, and to foster Open Science, knowledge valorisation, research integrity, and where applicable innovation and entrepreneurship, while encouraging international, cross-sectoral, and interdisciplinary mobility.

Postdoctoral programmes fund advanced research training and career development fellowships for postdoctoral researchers, focusing on transferable skills, digital competences, Open Science practices, knowledge valorisation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and good scientific conduct. These programmes must apply open, transparent, and merit-based selection procedures with international peer review, offer regular selection rounds, and support international, cross-sectoral, and interdisciplinary mobility while allowing researchers to freely choose their research topic and host organisation.

For more information, visit European Commission.