Doctoral Networks (DN)
The objective of Doctoral Networks is to develop and implement excellent doctoral programmes through partnerships of organisations from different sectors and disciplines across Europe and beyond.
Doctoral Networks aim to train creative, entrepreneurial, innovative and resilient doctoral candidates, able to face current and future challenges and to convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit.
Doctoral Networks - Researchers cumulative
This chart displays the cumulative number of recruited researchers from
2021 up to now, involved in MSCA Doctoral Networks, in ascending order.
In 2021, there were more than 1 500 researchers, supported through
MSCA DN, and the number has steadily increased since then, currently
exceeding 3 800 researchers.
Each point represents the total number of the MSCA-funded researchers at the end of that year.
Note: As this is a cumulative graph, the most recent year may show similar
values to the previous one, since many contracting processes are ongoing
and not all data have been updated yet.
Note: Actions “Doctoral Networks” (Horizon Europe) and “Innovative
Training Networks” (Horizon2020) in the Public Dashboard are separated
What Doctoral Networks are and what they aim to achieve.
Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF)
The objective of Postdoctoral Fellowships is to support researchers’ careers, foster excellent research training and enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers.
The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers already holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers.
Postdoctoral Fellowships help researchers gain new skills through advanced training, international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility.
Postdoctoral Fellowships - Researchers cumulative
This chart displays the cumulative number of researchers from 2021 to the present involved in MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, in ascending order.
In 2021, 1 147 researchers were supported through MSCA PF, and the number has steadily increased since them, currently exceeding 3 600 researchers.
Each point represents the total number of the MSCA-funded researchers at the end of that year.
Note: as this is a cumulative graph, the most recent year may not show the total figure as contracting processes may be ongoing and not all data updated yet.
Note: Actions “Postdoctoral Fellowships” (Horizon Europe) and “Individual Fellowships” (Horizon2020) in the Public Dashboard are separated
Rules and requirements for Postdoctoral Fellowships
Staff Exchanges (SE)
Staff Exchanges promote innovative international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in research and innovation through exchanging staff and sharing knowledge and ideas at all stages of the innovation chain.
The action funds short-term international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities of participating organisations.
Staff participating in the exchanges (research, administrative, technical, managerial) benefit from new knowledge, skills and career development perspectives, while participating organisations increase their research and innovation capacities.
Staff Exchanges - Researchers cumulative
This bar chart displays the cumulative number of researchers from 2022 up to now, involved in MSCA Staff Exchanges, in ascending order.
In 2022, there were more than 2 700 researchers, supported through MSCA Staff Exchanges , and the number has steadily increased, currently exceeding 4 500 researchers.
Each point represents the total number of the MSCA-funded researchers at the end of that year.
Please note that, due to the call timing and action design, the chart shows values as of 2022 for the projects selected under the 2021 COFUND call.
Similarly, since this is a cumulative graph, the most recent year might display values similar to the previous one, as many contracting processes are ongoing and not all data has been updated.
Note: Actions “Research and Innovation Staff Exchanges” (RISE, Horizon2020) and “Staff Exchanges” (Horizon Europe) in the Public Dashboard are separated
Details of Staff Exchanges action and who can apply
COFUND
The COFUND action provides co-funding for existing regional, national and international programmes for training and career development of researchers at both doctoral and postdoctoral level.
It aims to spread the MSCA’s best practices by promoting high recruitment standards and excellent working conditions for researchers. COFUND promotes sustainable training and international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility.
Co-funding programme - Researchers cumulative
This chart displays the cumulative number of recruited researchers in MSCA under Horizon Europe, from 2022 to the present involved in MSCA COFUND projects, in ascending order.
In 2022, there were more than 500 researchers, supported through MSCA COFUND, and the number has steadily increased since then, currently exceeding 700 researchers.
Each point represents the total number of the MSCA-funded researchers at the end of that year.
Please note that, due to the call timing and action design, the chart shows values as of 2022 for the projects selected under the 2021 COFUND call.
Similarly, since this is a cumulative graph, the most recent year might display values similar to the previous one, as many contracting processes are ongoing and not all data has been updated.
note: Actions “Research and Innovation Staff Exchanges” (RISE, Horizon2020) and “Staff Exchanges” (Horizon Europe) in the Public Dashboard are separated
Rules and requirements of the COFUND action
MSCA and Citizens
The objective of the MSCA and Citizens action is to bring research and researchers closer to the public at large, with a focus notably on families, pupils and students.
The action aims to increase awareness of research and innovation activities and to boost public recognition of science and research education.
It does so through the organisation of the European Researchers’ Night, the largest European research communication and promotion event taking place across EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
MSCA and Citizens – Budget awarded per year
The following bar chart shows the budget allocated to the contracted projects under MSCA and Citizens action since 2021.
Only two data bars are shown the chart do not reflect a trend over time but illustrate the design of the call, which is biannual, and the funding in the available years, which is around EUR 15 million per two-year call.
Find out more about MSCA and Citizens
Coordination and Support (CSA) – Supporting actions
The MSCA programme provides additional grants to enhance policy coordination and support of the MSCA implementation.
Coordination and Support (CSA) – Budget awarded per year
The budget per year varies, with the lowest budget in 2016, around 450 000 euros, and the highest in 2022, reaching 36 million euros. This is due to the EUR 25 million allocated for the MSCA4Ukraine fellowship scheme. Each bar represents the total budget allocated to CSA actions from 2014 up to now.
Note: figures for the current years may still change, as funding decisions and allocations are ongoing.
Choose Europe for Science pilot action, its purpose, and who can apply
Choose Europe for Science
Choose Europe for Science is a new pilot action launched under MSCA. Its objective is to
- increase the attractiveness of European research careers by addressing the issue of precarity
- offer excellent working conditions, turning the current challenge of brain drain in the research and innovation sector into brain gain
The pilot action supports projects in which academic and non-academic organisations recruit postdoctoral researchers, with a view to offering longer-term employment beyond the project period.
Our Choose Europe for Science section provides more detailed information
Related page
MSCA Data dashboard
All charts on this page are also available on a standalone Microsoft Qlik sense dashboard.
Disclaimer regarding data
The number of researchers funded each year depends on the available budget and is provisional. It becomes final only upon the administrative closure of all projects.
For MSCA actions, project selection results are usually announced a year after applications open, with researcher recruitment happening the year after that. Finally, it should be noted that the Work Programme year may not match the call deadline year shown in the charts on this page.
Please note that the data provided below is provisional, especially with respect to the current programming period (2021-2027).