Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Awarding €6.16 billion in the period going up to 2020, the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) support research training and career development focused on innovation skills. The programme funds worldwide and cross-sector mobility that implements excellent research in any field (a "bottom-up" approach).
International, intersectoral and interdisciplinary fellowships
There are MSCA grants for all stages of a researcher's career, from PhD candidates to highly experienced researchers, which encourage transnational, intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. The MSCA will become the main EU programme for doctoral training, financing 25,000 PhDs.
A well-rounded training scheme
Endowing researchers with new skills and a wider range of competences, while offering them attractive working conditions, is a crucial aspect of the MSCA. In addition to fostering mobility between countries, the MSCA also seek to break the real and perceived barriers between academic and other sectors, especially business. Several MSCA initiatives promote the involvement of industry etc. in doctoral and post-doctoral research.
A unique operation
COFUND offers additional funding for new or existing regional, national and international programmes for research training and career development. This extra funding enables the greater movement of researchers across borders and research sectors.
Mobility is an essential condition to MSCA actions
Gender is tackled in all MSCA actions. Equality in opportunities is paramount, both in the selection of fellows and at the project management level.
To better disseminate results and public participation, MSCA beneficiaries are expected to plan outreach activities for the greater public.