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Strategic Analysis
A winning MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 proposal must articulate an integrated, highly innovative research training programme that seamlessly combines scientific excellence with cross-sectoral exposure. Proposals should emphasize robust supervisory frameworks compliant with the the Guidelines for MSCA supervision, high-impact inter-sectoral secondments, and structured curricula covering generative AI, Open Science, and entrepreneurship to maximize researchers' long-term employability across academia and industry.
Implement doctoral programmes through partnerships of universities, research institutions, research infrastructures, businesses including SMEs, and other socio-economic actors across Europe and beyond, responding to well-identified needs in various R&I areas.
Conduct open, transparent, and merit-based selection procedures for doctoral candidates in line with the European Charter for Researchers, advertising vacancy notices internationally on EURAXESS with clear salary/tax details.
Develop Industrial Doctorates (with joint academic and non-academic supervision) or Joint Doctorates (leading to joint, double or multiple doctoral degrees), where applicable.
Establish a clearly identified supervisory board co-ordinating network-wide training, research, and supervision activities in line with the Guidelines for MSCA supervision.
Deliver training activities primarily focused on developing new scientific knowledge through original research on personalised projects, following the EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training and exploiting complementarities and networking.
Organise inter-sectoral secondments of researchers to other participating organisations, including in third countries, when relevant and beneficial.
Develop substantial training modules addressing key transferable skills and competences (including digital tools, generative AI, open science, knowledge valorisation, entrepreneurship, and research integrity).
Ensure high-quality supervision and mentoring arrangements, including mandatory joint supervision for Industrial and Joint Doctorates.
Establish a Career Development Plan jointly between supervisors and each recruited doctoral candidate at recruitment, revising and updating it within 18 months.
New research and transferable skills and competences, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia for supported doctoral candidates.
New knowledge allowing the conversion of ideas into products and services, where relevant, for supported doctoral candidates.
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 supported doctoral candidates.
Improved quality, relevance and sustainability of doctoral training programmes and supervision arrangements for participating organisations.
Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines for participating organisations.
Increased integration of training and research activities between participating organisations.
Boosted R&I capacity for participating organisations.
Increased internationalisation and attractiveness for participating organisations.
Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations.
Strengthen Europe's human capital base in R&I by training highly-skilled doctoral candidates;
Improve the attractiveness of researchers’ careers notably through better working and employment conditions of doctoral candidates in Europe;
Enhance talent and knowledge circulation across the R&I landscape, through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility;
Increase Europe's attractiveness as a leading research destination;
Enhance the quality of R&I contributing to Europe's sustainable competitiveness;
Establish sustainable collaboration between academic and non-academic organisations;
Foster the culture of open science, innovation and entrepreneurship.
European Charter for Researchers
highThe European Charter for Researchers sets out the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of researchers and their employers or funders. It provides a framework for attractive careers, transparent recruitment, fair working conditions, and professional development across the European Research Area.
Evaluators expect doctoral networks to demonstrate clear adherence to the Charter's principles, including open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R), equal opportunities, appropriate contractual and working conditions, and robust institutional support for early-stage researchers.
Guidelines for MSCA supervision
highThe Guidelines for MSCA supervision provide recommendations for individuals and institutions involved in MSCA projects to ensure high-quality mentoring and supervision. They address the professional development of researchers, work-life balance, conflict resolution, and the mutual responsibilities of supervisors and doctoral candidates.
Evaluators look for concrete supervision arrangements mirroring these guidelines, including joint supervisory teams, regular progress monitoring, clear mentoring structures, mechanisms for conflict mediation, and training or support for supervisors themselves.
EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training
highOutlines best practices for doctoral training, including interdisciplinary research, transferable skills, international mobility, and inter-sectoral collaboration. It serves as a benchmark for high-quality doctoral programmes.
Evaluators will expect proposals to explicitly reference and implement these principles, particularly in the design of the doctoral training programme, supervision arrangements, and career development plans. Proposals should demonstrate how they go beyond traditional doctoral training models.
MSCA Green Charter
highThe MSCA Green Charter promotes the mainstreaming of environmental sustainability across all MSCA-funded activities. It encourages beneficiaries to minimize the environmental footprint of their projects through sustainable mobility, green events, and eco-friendly research practices.
Evaluators expect proposals to commit to the MSCA Green Charter by detailing concrete green measures, such as low-carbon travel policies for secondments and network events, sustainable teleworking, and environmentally responsible lab practices.
Council Recommendation on the guiding principles for knowledge valorisation (2022/2415)
mediumCouncil Recommendation (EU) 2022/2415 establishes common principles to upgrade EU knowledge valorisation by translating research results into sustainable economic and societal value. It promotes cross-sectoral collaboration, intellectual asset management, open science integration, and entrepreneurial skills development.
Evaluators look for coherent strategies to translate research outcomes beyond academia, structured training for doctoral candidates in entrepreneurship and intellectual asset management, and well-defined pathways for socio-economic uptake.
Commission Recommendation on a Code of Practice on the management of intellectual assets for knowledge valorisation (2023/499)
mediumCommission Recommendation (EU) 2023/499 provides operational guidance on managing diverse intellectual assets (including IP, data, and software) to facilitate knowledge valorisation in collaborative research and innovation.
Evaluators expect to see clear IP management protocols, balanced open science and exploitation strategies, ownership and licensing arrangements among academic and non-academic partners, and relevant training for doctoral candidates.
Commission Recommendation on a Code of Practice on industry-academia co-creation for knowledge valorisation (2024/774)
mediumCommission Recommendation (EU) 2024/774 sets out practical guidelines for building sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships between academia and industry to co-create knowledge and accelerate innovation.
Evaluators expect well-structured secondments and inter-sectoral collaborations that clearly define roles, joint research activities, shared benefits, and practical training exposure for doctoral researchers in industrial environments.
Commission Recommendation on a Code of Practice on standardisation in the European Research Area (2023/498)
lowCommission Recommendation (EU) 2023/498 offers guidance on how public research organisations and researchers can effectively engage in standardisation activities to boost innovation uptake and market acceptance.
Where applicable, evaluators expect proposals to identify relevant standardisation bodies or activities, integrating standards development or compliance into the research methodology and doctoral training syllabus.
Commission Recommendation on a Code of Practice on citizen engagement for knowledge valorisation (2024/736)
lowCommission Recommendation (EU) 2024/736 provides practical recommendations on engaging citizens, communities, and civil society actors in research and innovation to ensure solutions address societal needs and enhance adoption.
Evaluators look for meaningful citizen engagement or participatory research methodologies where relevant, alongside training for researchers in science communication and participatory co-design.
Specific requirements
Beneficiaries
At least 3 independent legal entities as beneficiaries, each established in a different EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, at least one of them in an EU Member State.
Doctoral degree awarding
At least one participating organisation (beneficiary, associated partner or associated partner linked to a beneficiary) is entitled to award a doctoral degree. DN-JD: at least 3, one of them in an EU Member State or Associated Country, with a letter of pre-agreement in Part B2.
Recruitment by every beneficiary
Every beneficiary recruits, hosts and supervises at least one doctoral candidate. Only beneficiaries recruit; organisations that only host secondments are associated partners. Affiliated entities are not allowed.
Affiliated entities
Affiliated entities are not allowed to participate, as they cannot claim costs in MSCA Doctoral Networks.
40% rule
No more than 40.0% of the EU contribution may go to beneficiaries in the same country or to one international organisation, computed on the maximum grant amount at submission (the country correction coefficient applies).
540 person-months
The EU contribution is limited to 540 person-months per network, for all three modes.
Durations
Project up to 48 months (60 for DN-JD). Each fellowship 3 to 36 months (up to 48 for DN-JD).
Joint supervision
Joint supervision of the researchers is mandatory for Industrial Doctorates (by academic and non-academic organisations) and for Joint Doctorates, which also set up a joint governance structure with joint admission, selection, supervision, monitoring and assessment procedures.
Resubmission restriction
A proposal scored below 80% in the DN 2025 call cannot be resubmitted in 2026. A proposal with 70% or more of the same recruiting organisations as such a proposal is assessed for resubmission, whatever the self-declaration.
Gender Equality Plan
Public bodies, higher education institutions and research organisations from EU Member States and Associated Countries need a Gender Equality Plan before grant signature.
Excluded participants
High-risk suppliers of mobile network equipment and Chinese universities linked to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) cannot participate, neither as beneficiaries nor as associated partners.
| DN | DN-ID | DN-JD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum beneficiaries (EU/AC, of which EU) | 3 (3, 1) | 3 (3, 1) | 3 (3, 1) |
| Joint, double or multiple degree | Optional | Optional | Mandatory, letter of pre-agreement in Part B2 |
| Joint supervision | Encouraged | Mandatory (academic + non-academic) | Mandatory |
| Time in the non-academic sector | Encouraged | At least 50% of the fellowship | Encouraged |
| Secondments | Up to half of the recruitment | No limit | No limit |
| Project duration | Up to 48 months | Up to 48 months | Up to 60 months |
| Fellowship duration | 3 to 36 months | 3 to 36 months | 3 to 48 months |
Three award criteria, each scored from 0 to 5 with one decimal, weighted for the ranking:
| Criterion | Weight | Aspects taken into account |
|---|---|---|
| Excellence | 50% |
|
| Impact | 30% |
|
| Quality and efficiency of the implementation | 20% |
|
RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science (pilot, HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-03): an additional budget of 30 million euros for DN proposals whose doctoral research develops innovative AI systems, models, tools or methodologies for its scientific domain. It is not a separate call: the proposal is submitted to MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 and opts in by completing section 11 of Part B2. Same eligibility and award criteria; funded researchers are RAISE fellows.
Standard Doctoral Network (DN), Industrial Doctorate (DN-ID: at least 50% of each fellowship in the non-academic sector, joint supervision by both sectors) or Joint Doctorate (DN-JD: joint, double or multiple degrees, joint governance with joint admission, selection, supervision, monitoring and assessment, recruitment up to 48 months, project up to 60 months). See Eligibility for the full comparison.
Grants are signed on the HE Unit Model Grant Agreement. During grant preparation, mandatory deliverables are added, among which:
Beneficiaries give recruited researchers royalty-free access to the background and results they need, and are encouraged to sign a partnership agreement with the associated partners.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Implement doctoral programmes through partnerships of universities, research institutions, research infrastructures, businesses including SMEs, and other socio-economic actors across Europe and beyond, responding to well-identified needs in various R&I areas. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Conduct open, transparent, and merit-based selection procedures for doctoral candidates in line with the European Charter for Researchers, advertising vacancy notices internationally on EURAXESS with clear salary/tax details. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Develop Industrial Doctorates (with joint academic and non-academic supervision) or Joint Doctorates (leading to joint, double or multiple doctoral degrees), where applicable. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Establish a clearly identified supervisory board co-ordinating network-wide training, research, and supervision activities in line with the Guidelines for MSCA supervision. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5Deliver training activities primarily focused on developing new scientific knowledge through original research on personalised projects, following the EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training and exploiting complementarities and networking. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC6Organise inter-sectoral secondments of researchers to other participating organisations, including in third countries, when relevant and beneficial. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC7Develop substantial training modules addressing key transferable skills and competences (including digital tools, generative AI, open science, knowledge valorisation, entrepreneurship, and research integrity). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC8Ensure high-quality supervision and mentoring arrangements, including mandatory joint supervision for Industrial and Joint Doctorates. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC9Establish a Career Development Plan jointly between supervisors and each recruited doctoral candidate at recruitment, revising and updating it within 18 months. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1New research and transferable skills and competences, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia for supported doctoral candidates. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2New knowledge allowing the conversion of ideas into products and services, where relevant, for supported doctoral candidates. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3Enhanced 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 supported doctoral candidates. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO4Improved quality, relevance and sustainability of doctoral training programmes and supervision arrangements for participating organisations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO5Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines for participating organisations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO6Increased integration of training and research activities between participating organisations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO7Boosted R&I capacity for participating organisations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO8Increased internationalisation and attractiveness for participating organisations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO9Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Open science and FAIR data management trainingNetworks prepare doctoral candidates for open access to publications and research outputs, FAIR data management, societal engagement and citizen science. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral doctoral trainingTraining responds to well-identified needs, with references to inter- and multidisciplinary fields and inter-sectoral exposure of the doctoral candidates. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| EI1Strengthen Europe's human capital base in R&I by training highly-skilled doctoral candidates; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI2Improve the attractiveness of researchers’ careers notably through better working and employment conditions of doctoral candidates in Europe; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI3Enhance talent and knowledge circulation across the R&I landscape, through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI4Increase Europe's attractiveness as a leading research destination; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI5Enhance the quality of R&I contributing to Europe's sustainable competitiveness; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI6Establish sustainable collaboration between academic and non-academic organisations; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI7Foster the culture of open science, innovation and entrepreneurship. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1european charter for researchersThe European Charter for Researchers sets out the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of researchers and their employers or funders. It provides a framework for attractive careers, transparent recruitment, fair working conditions, and professional development across the European Research Area. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL2guidelines for msca supervisionThe Guidelines for MSCA supervision provide recommendations for individuals and institutions involved in MSCA projects to ensure high-quality mentoring and supervision. They address the professional development of researchers, work-life balance, conflict resolution, and the mutual responsibilities of supervisors and doctoral candidates. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL3eu principles for innovative doctoral trainingOutlines best practices for doctoral training , including interdisciplinary research, transferable skills, international mobility, and inter-sectoral collaboration . It serves as a benchmark for high-quality doctoral programmes. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL4msca green charterThe MSCA Green Charter promotes the mainstreaming of environmental sustainability across all MSCA-funded activities. It encourages beneficiaries to minimize the environmental footprint of their projects through sustainable mobility, green events, and eco-friendly research practices. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
Beneficiaries
At least 3 independent legal entities as beneficiaries, each established in a different EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, at least one of them in an EU Member State.
Doctoral degree awarding
At least one participating organisation (beneficiary, associated partner or associated partner linked to a beneficiary) is entitled to award a doctoral degree. DN-JD: at least 3, one of them in an EU Member State or Associated Country, with a letter of pre-agreement in Part B2.
Recruitment by every beneficiary
Every beneficiary recruits, hosts and supervises at least one doctoral candidate. Only beneficiaries recruit; organisations that only host secondments are associated partners. Affiliated entities are not allowed.
Affiliated entities
Affiliated entities are not allowed to participate, as they cannot claim costs in MSCA Doctoral Networks.
40% rule
No more than 40.0% of the EU contribution may go to beneficiaries in the same country or to one international organisation, computed on the maximum grant amount at submission (the country correction coefficient applies).
540 person-months
The EU contribution is limited to 540 person-months per network, for all three modes.
Durations
Project up to 48 months (60 for DN-JD). Each fellowship 3 to 36 months (up to 48 for DN-JD).
Joint supervision
Joint supervision of the researchers is mandatory for Industrial Doctorates (by academic and non-academic organisations) and for Joint Doctorates, which also set up a joint governance structure with joint admission, selection, supervision, monitoring and assessment procedures.
Resubmission restriction
A proposal scored below 80% in the DN 2025 call cannot be resubmitted in 2026. A proposal with 70% or more of the same recruiting organisations as such a proposal is assessed for resubmission, whatever the self-declaration.
Gender Equality Plan
Public bodies, higher education institutions and research organisations from EU Member States and Associated Countries need a Gender Equality Plan before grant signature.
Excluded participants
High-risk suppliers of mobile network equipment and Chinese universities linked to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) cannot participate, neither as beneficiaries nor as associated partners.
The call requires you to pick or distribute several structuring elements before submission. These are locked at proposal creation time and drive the project backbone. Read-only here.
msca-dn-implementation-mode
Standard Doctoral Network (DN)
Industrial Doctorate (DN-ID)
Joint Doctorate (DN-JD)
msca-dn-panel
Chemistry (CHE)
Social Sciences and Humanities (SOC)
Economic Sciences (ECO)
Information Science and Engineering (ENG)
Environment and Geosciences (ENV)
Life Sciences (LIF)
Mathematics (MAT)
Physics (PHY)
9 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
New in 2026: a score below 3 out of 5 on any of the three criteria rejects the proposal, whatever its total. The overall threshold stays at 70%, with Excellence weighted 50%, Impact 30% and Implementation 20%.
Source: Guide for Applicants DN 2026, novelties; Evaluation form HE MSCA
Applicants no longer pick a panel. The panel is the one of the first descriptor selected in the submission forms, and it also guides the choice of evaluators. Choose it early, from the sub-area that best reflects the core discipline of the network.
Source: Guide for Applicants DN 2026, panel selection
Quality of the supervision is one of the four Excellence aspects (section 1.4), including mandatory joint supervision in DN-ID and DN-JD. Describe progress and review procedures and feedback mechanisms there; the supervisors' profiles go only in section 8 of Part B2, to avoid duplication.
Source: Part B template V6.0, section 1.4
Evaluators look at how the network-wide training events (Table 1) complement the local programmes and serve the individual research projects of the doctoral candidates, rather than a training catalogue added next to the research.
Source: Part B template V6.0, section 1.3
Impact assesses the credibility of the measures that enhance career perspectives and employability. Show concrete measures: exposure to the non-academic sector, transferable skills, the Career Development Plan set up with each doctoral candidate at recruitment and revised within 18 months.
Source: Work Programme MSCA DN scope; Part B template section 2.2
The call expects substantial training modules on transferable skills common to all fields, including digital ones (e.g. generative AI), open science, knowledge valorisation, entrepreneurship where relevant and research integrity.
Source: Work Programme MSCA DN, training activities
Exceeding 540 person-months or giving more than 40% of the EU contribution to one country makes the proposal ineligible. The 40% is computed on money, not on person-months: the country correction coefficient of each recruiting beneficiary weighs in.
Source: Guide for Applicants DN 2026, sections 1-2
A proposal scored below 80% in DN 2025 cannot be resubmitted in 2026. Reusing 70% or more of the same recruiting organisations triggers an assessment of similarity of objectives and approach, whatever the self-declaration.
Source: Work Programme MSCA DN eligibility; Guide for Applicants DN 2026
Start page, table of contents and the list of participating organisations take the first 4 pages; sections 1 to 3 share 30 pages. Recruitment strategy, governance, supervisory board and organisation profiles go to Part B2, which has no overall limit.
Source: Part B template V6.0, page limits
Talk to the Grant Coach to build your concept. There is no set order: start wherever your project starts. The sections below mirror what the conversation produces, and your coverage tracks the progress. You can refine everything once your project workspace is created.
The branch you're building for — it shapes what the call expects of you, and what your coverage is measured against.
The call requires you to pick or distribute several structuring elements before submission. These are locked at proposal creation time and drive the project backbone. Read-only here.
msca-dn-implementation-mode
Standard Doctoral Network (DN)
Industrial Doctorate (DN-ID)
Joint Doctorate (DN-JD)
msca-dn-panel
Chemistry (CHE)
Social Sciences and Humanities (SOC)
Economic Sciences (ECO)
Information Science and Engineering (ENG)
Environment and Geosciences (ENV)
Life Sciences (LIF)
Mathematics (MAT)
Physics (PHY)
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Part B is submitted as two separate PDF documents (each up to 10 MB). Both carry the proposal acronym and the implementation mode (DN, DN-ID or DN-JD) in the header, and pages are numbered in one series ("Part B - Page X of Y"). File names: "Proposal Number-Acronym-Part B1.pdf" and "...-Part B2.pdf".