Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks 2026 (MSCA DN), incl. pilot for AI science – call open
The MSCA DN 2026 call supports large international projects creating networks of up to 15 doctoral candidates who carry out contributing research projects at participating partner institutions. Emphasis is placed on the quality of training, development of research and transferable skills and of career prospects of doctoral candidates, links with non-academic working environment, interdisciplinarity and international mobility (a doctoral candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the host institution for more than 12 months in the past 3 years; recruitment takes place after the project starts).
Key information about the call:
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Call |
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Budget |
€ 593 million |
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Expected number of projects |
>130 |
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Deadline |
24 November 2026 |
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Consortium requirements |
Min. 3 institutions from 3 different countries (EU or Horizon Europe associated). In practice, consortia typically include 7–16 partners, and participation of the non-academic sector (e.g. companies, hospitals, public administration) is essential. |
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Funding |
Simplified funding based on unit costs (no need to report real costs). Fixed grant amount per month per doctoral candidate: |
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Types of DN projects |
1. Standard Doctoral Networks (DN) o project max. 48 months, doctoral candidate max. 36 months 2. Industrial Doctoral Networks (DN-ID) o min. 50 % of the doctoral candidate’s time outside academia o emphasis on applied research and innovation o project 48 months, doctoral candidate max. 36 months 3. Joint Doctorates (DN-JD) o joint/double/multiple PhD degrees and joint supervision o project max. 60 months, doctoral candidate max. 48 months |
RAISE (Resource for AI Science in Europe) – additional funding opportunity
Within the MSCA DN 2026 call, €30 million is allocated to a pilot call RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science for projects focused on the development of or a significant contribution to AI tools, models, or methodologies in a given scientific field.
Applicants submit a standard proposal to MSCA DN 2026 call, indicate their interest in RAISE, and must demonstrate compliance with the “AI in Science” criterion. After the standard MSCA DN evaluation, the highest-ranked but not funded projects (“reserve list”) that applied for RAISE are reassessed for funding from the RAISE budget.
Links:
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026, RAISE Doctoral networks 2026 – detailed information at the EU Funding and Tenders Portal
Guide for applicants MSCA DN 2026
MSCA Work Programme 2026-2027 – call description, p. 13 a 69
MSCA DN 2026 Call Info Day – infoday by the European Commission on 3 June 2026 (recording)
6 steps to prepare your application – European Commission website
Contact person: Ing. Anna Konecká, anna.konecka@vscht.cz, ext. 4403