Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

The results for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 call are announced. 1,249 experienced postdoctoral researchers have been selected for funding among 8,039 applicants. €221.40 million will be allocated to 1,110 researchers through European Postdoctoral Fellowships, allowing them to carry out their projects in the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe, whilst € 39.07 million will enable 139 researchers to carry out research outside these countries.

The MSCA Seal of Excellence enables Postdoctoral Fellowships applicants who achieved high scores but were not funded due to budget constraints to seek alternative funding and support from various sources. Several organisations are currently offering funding opportunities for MSCA Seal of Excellence awardees in Italy and Lithuania.

• Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation, Italy
• Collegio Carlo Alberto, Italy
• Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Lithuania
• Check the full list of Seal of Excellence support schemes

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions will support training, skills and career development of researches by funding doctoral programmes, postdoctoral fellowships and collaborative projects with over €1.23 billion in 2024. The call dates and budget are tentative and will be confirmed and published on the EU’s Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal once the revised Horizon Europe 2023-2025 work programme is adopted in spring.

As of 1 January 2024, the United Kingdom has again become an associated country to Horizon Europe, allowing UK organizations to participate in the programme on equal terms with those in the EU. The association of the country will allow organisations and individuals to fully take part in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and will apply to MSCA calls for proposals launched as of 2024.

Falling Walls Lab is a world-wide pitch competition offering an opportunity for MSCA fellows to present their projects and innovative ideas to the scientific community through 3-minute talks. It's an extraordinary opportunity to practice intersectional skills such as communication and outreach. Participants will be invited to take part in coaching sessions with experts. The deadline for applications is 23 February 2024, 12:00 CET.

MSCA will continue supporting the EU's science engagement and communication flagship initiatives, the European Researcher’s Night and Researchers at Schools, in 2024 and 2025. 350 cities across Europe and beyond will host activities bringing research closer to schools, young people, families and citizens all year round. A full list of projects with the countries and cities where they will take place will be available published in spring.

The 2023 call for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges will fund around 75 projects with €78.5 million to promote international research cooperation in the EU and globally. Check the Guide for Applicants, the official documents and the MSCA-NET Handbook to get expert advice and finish your application.

The European Commission and the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU are organising the upcoming MSCA Presidency conference, which will take place in Mons, Belgium, on 18-19 April 2024. The goal is to create a fertile ground for productive discussions between researchers, representatives from the public and private sector, policy makers and all stakeholders which, one way or another, play a role in researchers’ careers.

The 2024 annual conference and General Assembly of the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) will take place at the University of Milano-Bicocca in Milano, Italy, on 14-16 March 2024. The theme of the conference is 10 Years of MCAA: Past, Present & Future. The MCAA community brings together researchers from all career stages and scientific disciplines, MSCA project managers and stakeholders.

The Swedish innovation agency Vinnova has opened new calls to retain MSCA alumni based in Sweden after completing their MSCA PhD or fellowship and support their employment outside academia. The scheme makes it easier for employers to attract international talents and cutting-edge expertise and skills in specific areas, whilst creating the conditions for researchers to stay in Sweden and supporting their integration in the country. Interested researchers and organisations can find a suitable employer or researcher through the scheme’s improved matching tool and dedicated matchmaking events.

If you are utilising citizen science practices in inventive ways to address societal challenges in your MSCA project, the IMPETUS project is eager to support with your initiatives. In this open call, IMPETUS is looking for Citizen Science projects for two exciting opportunities, the IMPETUS Accelerator and the European Union Prize for Citizen Science. This Call will run from January 10th until March 11th (23:59 CET) for the European Union Prize for Citizen Science and March 14th (12:00 CET) for the IMPETUS Accelerator.

The European Commission has published a new financial guide that explains different aspects of project implementation. The document is a valuable resource for applicants, coordinators and managers of projects funded by the MSCA. It aims to help organisations taking part in the programme better understand the financial management aspects of their grants, such as reporting, eligibility of costs, considerations for the recruitment of researchers and staff, and more.

The European Commission and the European Research Executive Agency (REA) have published new information packages for researchers and staff members taking part in projects supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie under Horizon Europe. If you are a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships researcher, a specific information note is also available for you.

A new study assesses the initial use of the MSCA Green Charter. The publication is based on a survey which looked at general developments in greening strategies among MSCA participants, explored whether the charter can and does help to promote sustainability considerations and measures, and sought feedback on what kind of support is needed to support green and sustainable research practices in MSCA projects. Earlier on in 2023, the MSCA published new guidance to support its projects in fostering such changes.