New MSCA Seal of Excellence scheme kicks off in Croatia

The Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth has set up a new funding scheme for MSCA Seal of Excellence holders who applied to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships calls under Horizon Europe, but failed to receive EU funding due to budget constraints.  

The initiative is part of the Digital, Innovation, and Green Technology (DIGIT) project, financed through a World Bank loan.

The scheme targets applicants that have been awarded a Seal of Excellence certificate under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships Action with a host organisation based in Croatia.

About the call

The budget for this call is €2,5 million. The grant will be awarded in the form of a lump sum. The total amount will correspond to the amount sought by applicants from the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call for proposals.  

The maximum grant amount and duration depend on the type of fellowship:

• for European Postdoctoral Fellowships up to €160,000, with a duration from 12 to 24 months
• for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships up to €255,000, with a duration from 24 to 36 months

The call is permanently open until 31 December 2026 or until all available funds have been allocated. 

How to apply

The eligible applicant must be a legal entity registered in Croatia that served as the host organisation for a project proposal which received a Seal of Excellence after having applied under a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call for proposals under Horizon Europe.  

Applicants must submit the original project proposal, the Seal of Excellence certificate as well as the evaluation summary report.  

The Croatian Ministry has published full details and eligibility conditions on its website (in English and Croatian). Please read carefully and refer to the applicable documentation.

About the MSCA Seal of Excellence  

The MSCA Seal of Excellence is a quality label awarded to applicants under Postdoctoral Fellowships and COFUND who achieved a high score in their applications (85% or higher) but unfortunately were not awarded funding due to budgetary constraints.  

The MSCA Seal of Excellence  

• underlines the value of these projects and aims to support applicants in securing alternative funding
• allows other funding bodies such as national, regional, and local authorities, public and private institutions to support MSCA proposals that have been awarded the Seal of Excellence and to take advantage of the Horizon Europe evaluation process