We need much more MSCA!

EU-LIFE issues today the ‘We need much more MSCA!’ statement together with a wide group of leading research & innovation organisations, with the aim to call for the recognition the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) deserve, alongside an increased budget to unlock its full potential. MSCA foster international research careers through mobility and training, and have a key role in promoting European research excellence. Along with the European Research Council (ERC), MSCA are critical for the European research & innovation ecosystem.

EU-LIFE's work on MSCA has focused on engaging policymakers, urging them to provide adequate funding for MSCA to support young researchers and foster scientific innovation across Europe. Earlier this year, for example, we published EU-LIFE’s vision for MSCA in FP10, which includes a series of recommendations to ensure a strong MSCA with commensurate budget, and also more ambitious suggestions to enrich the MSCA beyond its current scope with additional funding.

On the other hand, EU-LIFE also enhances collaboration between institutions and ensures that researchers have access to opportunities that advance their careers, for example with the creation of a booklet that outlines the support offered by each of its member institutes for MSCA-PF applications. Another key initiative is the recent publication of recommendations and insights on how project managers can better navigate MSCA collaborative projects, recognizing their role in optimizing the success of international research partnerships.