Expected Outcome:

Projects results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

For supported doctoral candidates or postdoctoral researchers

• Deeper and more diverse set of research-related and transferable skills and competences;
• Improved employability and career prospects both within academia and beyond;
• New mind-sets and approaches to R&I work forged through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary experience;
• Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact.

For participating organisations

• Enhanced quality and sustainability of research training;
• Increased global attractiveness, visibility and reputation of the participating organisation(s);
• Stronger R&I capacity and output among participating organisations;
• Increased contribution of the participating organisations to the local, regional and/or national socio-economic ecosystems;
• Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations.

Scope:

Applicants submit proposals for new or existing doctoral or postdoctoral programmes with an impact on the enhancement of human resources in R&I at regional, national or international level. These programmes will be co-funded by MSCA COFUND.

Proposed programmes can cover any research disciplines (“bottom-up”), but exceptionally can also focus on specific disciplines, notably when they are based on national or regional Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3 strategies). In this case, the range of covered disciplines should allow reasonable flexibility for the researchers to define their topic.

Funding synergies with Cohesion policy funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) are strongly encouraged^.

COFUND takes the form of:

A) Doctoral programmes

• Aim to train early-stage researchers leading to a PhD degree awarded in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
• Must follow the EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training, focusing on transferable skills, digital competencies, research ethics, Open Science, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• Cross-sectoral mobility and partnerships with non-academic organisations are encouraged.
• High-quality supervision, mentoring, and open, transparent recruitment processes must be ensured

B) Postdoctoral Programmes

• Support experienced researchers through fellowships offering advanced training and career development opportunities.
• Programmes must include transferable skills training, promotion of Open Science practices, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Selection must be competitive, merit-based, and follow international peer-review standards.
• Postdoctoral researchers should have the freedom to choose their research topics and host institutions, ensuring the best fit for their career needs.