The Swedish innovation agency Vinnova has opened new calls to retain MSCA alumni based in Sweden after completing their 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.

Vinnova offers recruitment support up to a maximum of SEK 500,000 for an equivalent of 6 months of full-time employment. It expects 10-20 projects per year to be financed under this scheme.

Who can apply?

Researchers should have a PhD, be about to defend their thesis or have completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Sweden to be eligible under this call.

Fellows who have or have had a Swedish host organisation during their fellowship but have defended their thesis abroad are also eligible.

Eligible fellows should also not be employed outside academia and have finished their fellowship with a Swedish host organisation funded by one of the following schemes by the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions or Vinnova

• Innovative Training Networks or Doctoral Networks
• Individual Fellowships or Postdoctoral Fellowships
• COFUND
• European Fellowships funded by an MSCA Seal of Excellence (Vinnova or Swedish Research Council)

Eligible organisations include any kind of non-academic employers in Sweden

• business and large companies
• small and medium-sized enterprises
• research institutes
• public organisations

The deadline for applications is 12 March 2024, 14:00 CET.

A second call will open this year with a deadline in September 2024.

Online information session

The scheme will organise an online session on 27 February at 16.00 CET, to offer more information to applicants.