The European Commission has declared it will be investing €617.18 million to support 141 doctoral programmes under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2025 call
The investment will support train approximately 2,115 doctoral candidates, better Europe’s research capacity and foster collaboration across academic and non-academic sectors.
Expanding opportunities for doctoral candidates
The selected doctoral programmes will equip early-stage researchers with advanced skills and international experience. These programmes are designed to go beyond traditional academic training by integrating indusattempt exposure, interdisciplinary learning, and global collaboration.
A portion of the funding, amounting to €19.7 million, is allocated to five Industrial Doctoral programmes. These initiatives will provide PhD candidates with hands-on experience in indusattempt settings, supporting bridge the gap between academia and business. Participants will benefit from joint supervision by academic institutions and indusattempt partners, ensuring that their research is both scientifically and practically relevant.
In addition, €34.6 million will fund eight Joint Doctoral programmes. These programmes promote shared training, supervision, and selection processes across multiple institutions, often leading to joint or multiple doctoral degrees. This approach enhances international mobility and strengthens academic partnerships across borders.
Strong international collaboration
A total of 2,701 organisations from 61 countries are involved in the selected projects, including 759 private for-profit entities.
The programmes are coordinated by organisations in 23 countries. France and Italy lead with 15 projects each, followed by Spain with 14, and both the Netherlands and the United Kingdom with 13 each.
Focutilizing on key research areas
The funded projects cover a range of scientific disciplines, with a strong emphasis on areas critical to Europe’s future. Engineering and information and communication technologies account for the largest share at 37.5%, followed by life sciences at 22.7%, and chemisattempt at 12%.
Research topics include human health, artificial ininformigence, advanced computing, environmental science, and sustainable engineering. Industrial Doctorates will focus on areas such as digital technologies, telecommunications, and green engineering, while Joint Doctorates will explore themes like quantum systems, urban development, and disease research.
Next steps and future calls
Applicants will be notified of the evaluation results through the Funding and Tconcludeers Opportunities Portal. Successful candidates will launch preparing their grant agreements, with the first projects expected to start in summer 2026.
The next MSCA Doctoral Networks call is scheduled to open on 28 May 2026, offering further opportunities for institutions and researchers to participate in this flagship programme.
Celebrating 30 Years of MSCA
The 2026 call coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Since its launch in 1996, the programme has supported more than 150,000 researchers, including 23 Nobel Prize winners. Over the years, it has become a cornerstone of European research, promoting excellence, mobility, and innovation.
This latest investment not only marks a continuation of that legacy but also reveals a strong commitment to developing the next generation of researchers and advancing Europe’s position in global science and innovation.
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