MSCA COFUND for Doctoral Candidates or Postdoctoral Researchers

Deadline: 08-Apr-2026

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND programme supports high-quality doctoral and postdoctoral training programmes by co-funding researcher positions that promote international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral mobility. It strengthens research and innovation capacity across Europe by enhancing researcher skills, employability, and institutional excellence, with a strong emphasis on Open Science, digital skills, and career development.

Overview of MSCA COFUND

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), implemented by the European Commission under Horizon Europe, aim to spread excellence in research training and researcher mobility across Europe and beyond.

MSCA COFUND specifically supports new or existing doctoral and postdoctoral programmes by co-funding researcher salaries and training costs at regional, national, or international levels.

The programme promotes best practices in research training while strengthening research and innovation (R&I) ecosystems through collaboration between academia, industry, public bodies, and other sectors.

Core Objectives of MSCA COFUND

MSCA COFUND is designed to:

• Promote international, inter-sectoral, and interdisciplinary research training

• Enhance international and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all career stages

• Develop advanced research-related and transferable skills

• Improve employability and long-term career prospects inside and outside academia

• Foster new research mindsets through diverse research environments

• Strengthen networking, science communication, and public engagement capacities

• Increase research quality, sustainability, and institutional reputation

• Boost regional, national, and international research and innovation capacity

• Reinforce links between research, education, and socio-economic ecosystems

Indicative Budget

• Total indicative budget: EUR 105.46 million (to be confirmed)

This funding supports researcher-month allowances and contributes to high-quality training environments across Europe.

What is MSCA COFUND?

MSCA COFUND is a co-funding mechanism that allows organisations to run doctoral or postdoctoral fellowship programmes aligned with MSCA principles.

Funding is provided as a COFUND allowance per researcher-month, helping institutions scale or enhance their training programmes while maintaining high standards.

Synergies with other EU funding sources, including Cohesion Policy Funds, are strongly encouraged to maximize impact.

Types of Programmes Supported

Doctoral Programmes

Doctoral programmes under MSCA COFUND:

• Lead to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country

• Follow the EU Principles on Innovative Doctoral Training

• Include structured research training and formal skills development

• Integrate transferable skills such as:

  • Digital skills, including generative AI

  • Research integrity and ethics

  • Open Science practices

  • Knowledge valorisation

  • Innovation and entrepreneurship (where relevant)

• Encourage international, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral mobility

Postdoctoral Programmes

Postdoctoral programmes support advanced research training and career development fellowships by:

• Funding postdoctoral researchers to pursue independent research projects

• Allowing free choice of research topic and host organisation

• Emphasising transferable skills, including:

  • Digital competences

  • Open Science and data management

  • Knowledge valorisation

  • Innovation and entrepreneurship

  • Good scientific conduct

• Applying open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment with international peer review

• Offering regular and predictable selection rounds

• Supporting international and cross-sectoral mobility

Career Development Plans (CDPs)

Each recruited researcher must have a Career Development Plan (CDP) jointly established with their supervisor at the start of recruitment.

The CDP must cover:

• Research objectives and milestones

• Training needs and transferable skills development

• Career planning and employability goals

• Teaching and supervision activities (if applicable)

• Publication strategy

• Conference participation and networking

• Public engagement and science communication activities

The plan must be reviewed and updated within 18 months of recruitment.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible Organisations

• Universities and higher education institutions

• Research organisations and institutes

• Public bodies

• Private sector organisations, including industry and SMEs

• Organisations based in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries

Eligible Researchers

• Doctoral candidates enrolled or to be enrolled in a PhD programme

• Postdoctoral researchers holding a doctoral degree

• Researchers of any nationality, subject to mobility rules

Why MSCA COFUND Matters

MSCA COFUND plays a strategic role in strengthening Europe’s research base by:

• Elevating research training standards globally

• Enhancing institutional visibility and reputation

• Supporting innovation-driven economic growth

• Bridging academia, industry, and society

• Creating a highly skilled, mobile, and adaptable research workforce

• Feeding research outcomes back into teaching and education systems

How MSCA COFUND Works

1. Organisations design a doctoral or postdoctoral programme aligned with MSCA principles

2. The programme is submitted for MSCA COFUND funding under Horizon Europe

3. Selected programmes receive co-funding per researcher-month

4. Organisations recruit researchers through open, transparent calls

5. Researchers receive structured training, supervision, and mobility opportunities

6. Career Development Plans guide researcher progression and impact

Tips for Successful MSCA COFUND Participation

• Align programmes with regional or national Smart Specialisation Strategies

• Embed strong transferable and digital skills training

• Ensure robust international and cross-sectoral mobility pathways

• Plan clear supervision structures and mentoring systems

• Leverage additional funding sources to enhance programme scale

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Weak career development planning

• Limited transferable skills or digital training components

• Insufficient mobility opportunities

• Non-transparent recruitment procedures

• Poor integration of Open Science and research integrity principles

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is MSCA COFUND?

MSCA COFUND is a Horizon Europe funding action that co-finances doctoral and postdoctoral training programmes following MSCA standards.

2. Can programmes be discipline-specific?

Yes. Programmes may be open to all disciplines or focused on specific fields, especially when aligned with national or regional priorities.

3. Do researchers choose their own research topics?

Yes. Researchers are given flexibility to define their research topics within the programme’s scope.

4. Is international mobility mandatory?

Yes. International, cross-sectoral, or interdisciplinary mobility is a core requirement of MSCA COFUND.

5. Are digital skills required?

Yes. Training in digital skills, including generative AI where relevant, is strongly encouraged.

6. Can non-EU researchers apply?

Yes. Researchers of any nationality can apply, subject to MSCA mobility rules.

7. Can MSCA COFUND be combined with other funding?

Yes. Synergies with Cohesion Policy Funds and other EU funding sources are encouraged.

Conclusion

The MSCA COFUND programme is a powerful instrument for advancing excellence in research training, researcher mobility, and institutional capacity across Europe. By combining structured doctoral and postdoctoral programmes with international exposure, transferable skills development, and strong career planning, MSCA COFUND helps build a resilient, innovative, and globally competitive research ecosystem.

For more information, visit European Commission.