The European Commission has announced new calls within the Marie Skłodowska -Curie Actions ( Marie Skłodowska – Curie Actions – MSCA), the leading scheme for funding doctoral and postdoctoral education and training within the Horizon Europe program . Calls were opened after the Horizon Europe work program for 2021-2022 was adopted on June 22, 2021 .

With a total budget of EUR 6.6 billion for the period from 2021 to 2027, MSCA will support researchers from all over the world, at all career stages and in all scientific disciplines. Institutions also benefit because support is provided for excellent doctoral and postdoctoral programs, collaborative research and innovative projects that they implement, which increases their global attractiveness and visibility, but also stronger cooperation outside the academic community due to the inclusion of both large companies and small and medium-sized enterprises.

During 2021, about 822 million EUR, through the following five main actions:

  • MSCA Doctoral Networks - the action involves the realization of doctoral programs in academic and other sectors, including industry and companies. The call for 2021, with a budget of EUR 402.95 million, was opened on June 22, and will close on November 16, 2021.
  • MSCA postdoctoral scholarships - this action contributes to strengthening the creative and innovative potential of researchers who have completed doctoral studies and who want to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral mobility. Funding will be available to researchers willing to pursue research and innovation projects in Europe and worldwide, both in the academic and non-academic sectors. The call for 2021, with a budget of EUR 242 million, opened on June 22 and will close on October 12, 2021.
  • MSCA personnel exchanges imply the development of international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral sustainable cooperation in the field of research and innovation through personnel exchanges. The scheme contributes to the transformation of ideas into innovative products, services or processes. The call for 2021, with a budget of EUR 72.5 million, will be opened on October 7, 2021, and will close on March 9, 2022.
  • MSCA COFUND – co-financing of new or existing doctoral programs and postdoctoral scholarship schemes in EU member states or countries affiliated to the Horizon Europe program in order to spread the best MSCA practices. This includes international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral training of researchers, as well as mobility of researchers at all stages of their careers. The call for 2021, with a budget of EUR 89 million, will open on October 12, 2021, and close on February 10, 2022.
  • MSCA and citizens - this action seeks to bring the field of research closer to the general public mainly through the European Night of Researchers. In this way, awareness of the impact of researchers' work on the lives of citizens, society and the economy increases and public recognition of science and research is strengthened. It also aims to raise young people's interest in careers in research and science. call 2022, with a budget of EUR 15.5 million, covers the 2022 and 2023 editions of the European Night of Researchers and was opened on June 22 with a deadline of October 7, 2021.

Within the Horizon Europe 2021-2027 program, MSCA will place greater emphasis on cross-sectoral cooperation, especially between the academic community and business, as well as on effective supervision and career guidance through the new MSCA supervision guidelines. It will also promote the sustainability of research activities and management in accordance with the European Green Deal through the MSCA Green Charter.

Between 2014 and 2020, MSCA supported over 65,000 researchers from Europe and beyond, including 25,000 PhD students. It has also funded more than 1,000 international PhD programs and fostered links between academia and industry, including 4,700 companies and nearly 2,200 SMEs. During the same period, over 8,450 organizations from more than 130 countries participated in the MSCA.

For more information see:

Also, in the period from June 28 to July 9, 2021, the European Commission is organizing info days dedicated to the Horizon Europe program, and an Info day specifically dedicated to the MSCA program will be held on July 1, 2021.

The event will present key information related to the MSCA program to encourage organizations and researchers to apply for calls, and participants will have the opportunity to learn about the paper. The Info Day is open to researchers, higher education institutions, research institutions, research funding agencies and other organizations that already participate in MSCA or are interested in applying for the first time to future calls.