Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships

MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions), is part of the EU’s larger research and innovation framework programs, evolving through FP7 (7th Framework Programme) and continuing strongly in Horizon 2020 and now Horizon Europe (the current program since 2021).

Over time, MSCA expanded from funding PhD training and early postdoctoral projects to include global fellowships, staff exchanges, and innovative training networks. Postdoctoral Fellowships under MSCA became one of the most competitive and prestigious grants for early-career researchers.

An Example of Excellence: Gianluca Sampaolo, a former student of the University of Macerata, has been awarded one of the highly prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowships; one of the most competitive research programmes in the world, funded by the European Commission.

This achievement stands as a remarkable example of academic excellence. Sampaolo's project, titled "REALISE" ("Produce actionable policy insights that enable a sound balance between security and openness of the EU research and innovation ecosystems"), received an exceptional evaluation score of 98.80 out of 100 from the Commission’s expert reviewers and has been granted full funding of €430,000.

The project addresses a critical and timely issue for the European Union: how to maintain a balance between security and openness in its research and innovation ecosystems. In light of a shifting geopolitical landscape—particularly with regard to the semiconductor industry—the project aims to develop concrete policy solutions and advanced governance tools to manage this complex and sensitive equilibrium.

Application deadline: 10 September 2025 (17:00 CET)

for more information: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions