MSCA COFUND co-finances new or existing doctoral programmes and postdoctoral fellowship schemes with the aim of disseminating the best practices of the MSCA, including international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary research training, as well as the international and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of their careers.
In practice, MSCA COFUND provides complementary funding for doctoral or postdoctoral programmes managed by entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. These co-funded programmes must adhere to MSCA’s best practices regarding international recruitment and the minimum standard of employment for recruited fellows, as outlined in the European Charter for Researchers.
MSCA Choose Europe for Science co-funded programmes also aim to address brain drain and the precarity of researchers' careers, in order to make Europe more attractive to the most promising young talents. The scheme enables applicants to connect MSCA grants to competitions leading to long-term, attractive positions in universities and other research performing organisations.
Expected impact
Proposals under this Action should contribute to the following expected impacts:
Enhance talent and knowledge circulation across the R&I landscape, through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility, including by supporting regional or national smart specialisation strategies when appropriate;
Align practices with MSCA policies based on the European Charter for Researchers;
Improve the attractiveness of researchers’ careers, notably through better working and employment conditions as well as access to concrete long-term career prospects;
Strengthen Europe's human capital base in R&I by training highly skilled researchers;
Increase Europe's attractiveness as a leading R&I destination;
Enhance the quality of R&I contributing to Europe's sustainable competitiveness;
Establish sustainable collaboration between academic and non-academic organisations;
Foster a culture of open science, innovation, and entrepreneurship.