RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science (RAISE pilot) — HORIZON

🔬 Scientific Alignment

Scope Activities (6)

SC1

Doctoral candidates are to either develop or significantly participate in the development of innovative AI systems, models, tools or methodologies for their scientific domain, which must substantially innovate the way in which scientific information is analysed and enable a scientific contribution furthering the state of the art in the discipline.

SC2

Make the development of the AI tool, model or methodology an integral and indispensable part of the research work, clearly delineated in the research work package, with scientific advancements directly dependent on the capabilities and application of these AI algorithms to drive scientific inquiry, prediction, or understanding.

SC3

Achieve research results in the domain-scientific discipline of the doctoral research through using innovative AI techniques, going beyond a unique focus on computer-scientific AI development or the instrumental use of existing AI systems, methodologies, or general-purpose computational tools for data processing/statistical analysis.

SC4

Provide all doctoral candidates with dedicated doctoral-level training on AI in science.

SC5

Associate successful RAISE Doctoral Networks and doctoral candidates with RAISE (the Resource for AI Science in Europe), integrating them into the RAISE research community and facilitating interaction with its members.

SC6

Submit the proposal to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2026, declaring interest in being considered for the RAISE Doctoral Networks and demonstrating that the proposal falls within the scope of the RAISE call and meets MSCA admissibility/eligibility conditions.

Expected Outcomes (9)

EO1

New research and transferable skills and competences in the application of AI in science, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia;

EO2

New knowledge allowing the conversion of ideas into products and services, where relevant;

EO3

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.

EO4

Improved quality, relevance and sustainability of doctoral training programmes and supervision arrangements;

EO5

Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines;

EO6

Increased integration of training and research activities between participating organisations;

EO7

Boosted R&I capacity and uptake of AI in science;

EO8

Increased internationalisation and attractiveness;

EO9

Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations.

🌍 Impact Strategy

Target SDG Topics

Select the SDG targets (topics) that your future project proposal will actively address to align with EU Policy Impacts.

Expected Impacts (0)

No expected impacts identified for this destination.

EU Policy Alignment

European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers

high

The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (updated by the Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe) outline the principles governing researchers' rights, obligations, and working conditions. They establish standards for open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R) and fair career progression across the European Research Area.

💡

Evaluator focus:

Evaluators expect doctoral network proposals to clearly demonstrate how their recruitment processes adhere to OTM-R principles, including international outreach and transparent criteria. Furthermore, proposals must detail institutional commitments to fair working conditions, supervision quality, and career development support consistent with the Charter and Code.

📋 Additional Guidance

⚖ Eligibility rules

Minimum partners3

Minimum countries3

Maximum duration48 months

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.

Submission through MSCA DN 2026

Submitted to MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 with section 11 of Part B2 completed (opt-in and justification of the fit with the RAISE scope).

⚖ Eligibility — synthesis

Consortium

At least 3 beneficiaries, independent legal entities, each in a different EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, at least one in an EU Member State. Further beneficiaries can be in EU Member States, Associated Countries or low- and middle-income countries listed in the HE Programme Guide; other countries only if their participation is essential.
Associated partners can be established anywhere in the world and in any sector. They do not recruit and do not claim unit contributions. Associated partners linked to a beneficiary must be described as such.
Every beneficiary recruits at least one doctoral candidate and hosts and supervises them (or through an associated partner linked to it). Affiliated entities are not allowed.
At least one participating organisation awards doctoral degrees. If no beneficiary does, a university (or a grouping entitled to award doctorates) joins as associated partner.
40% rule: no more than 40.0% of the EU contribution to beneficiaries in one country or to one international organisation. Non-compliant proposals are ineligible.
540 person-months maximum per network (for example 15 doctoral candidates for 36 months, or 11 for 48 months in a DN-JD).

Rules per implementation mode

	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

Researchers (checked at recruitment, not at submission)

Doctoral candidates: not yet holding a doctoral degree on the recruitment date (a defended but not awarded thesis is not eligible), enrolled in a doctoral programme in an EU Member State or Associated Country (exception: a beneficiary in a non-associated third country may enrol them in its own country's programme, except in DN-JD).
Mobility rule: not resided or worked in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment.

Other conditions

Resubmission: a proposal scored below 80% in DN 2025 cannot be resubmitted in 2026; 70% or more of the same recruiting organisations triggers a resubmission check.
A Gender Equality Plan is required before grant signature for public bodies, higher education institutions and research organisations from EU Member States and Associated Countries.
High-risk suppliers of mobile network equipment and Chinese universities linked to MIIT cannot participate.

🗓 Call process & calendar

RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science is a pilot with an additional budget of 30 million euros. It is not a separate call: proposals are submitted to MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 (deadline 24 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time) and opt in by completing section 11 of Part B2 (1 page).
Evaluation with the MSCA award criteria and scoring. At the end of the MSCA evaluation, a cross-panel list of fundable RAISE proposals is drawn up with the highest-ranking reserve-list proposals (requested budget close to 3 times the available budget); experts assess their relevance to the RAISE topic, and the final ranking combines the MSCA score and this relevance.
Funded doctoral candidates are RAISE fellows and the networks are associated with RAISE, the Resource for AI Science in Europe.

🎯 Call process & Evaluation criteria (Pre-award)

Three award criteria, each scored from 0 to 5 with one decimal, weighted for the ranking:

Criterion	Weight	Aspects taken into account
Excellence	50%	Quality and pertinence of the project's research and innovation objectives (and the extent to which they are ambitious, and go beyond the state of the art) Soundness of the proposed methodology (including interdisciplinary approaches, consideration of the gender dimension and other diversity aspects if relevant for the research project, and the quality and appropriateness of open science practices) Quality and credibility of the training programme (including transferable skills, inter/multidisciplinary, inter-sectoral and gender as well as other diversity aspects) Quality of the supervision (including mandatory joint supervision for industrial and joint doctorate projects)
Impact	30%	Contribution to structuring doctoral training at the European level and to strengthening European innovation capacity, including the potential for: a) meaningful contribution of the non-academic sector to the doctoral training, as appropriate to the implementation mode and research field; b) developing sustainable elements of doctoral programmes Credibility of the measures to enhance the career perspectives and employability of researchers and contribution to their skills development Suitability and quality of the measures to maximise expected outcomes and impacts, as set out in the dissemination and exploitation plan, including communication activities The magnitude and importance of the project's contribution to the expected scientific, societal and economic impacts
Quality and efficiency of the implementation	20%	Quality and effectiveness of the work plan, assessment of risks and appropriateness of the effort assigned to work packages Quality, capacity and role of each participant, including hosting arrangements and extent to which the consortium as a whole brings together the necessary expertise

Thresholds

New in 2026: at least 3 out of 5 on each criterion. Below 3 on any criterion, the proposal is rejected whatever its total.
Overall threshold: 70% (weighted total).

Ranking

Each of the 8 scientific panels ranks its own proposals. The call budget is split between panels in proportion to the eligible proposals received; DN-ID and DN-JD are ranked in their scientific panel.
Ties: Excellence score first, then Impact, then the gender balance of the named supervisors, then other factors (gender and diversity in the research, non-academic and SME participation, geographical diversity, international cooperation, employment conditions).
Proposals are evaluated as submitted: there is no room for significant changes during grant preparation.

💶 Financials

MSCA Doctoral Networks are funded by unit contributions per person-month: for the recruited researchers a living allowance (adjusted by the country correction coefficient of the recruiting beneficiary), a mobility allowance and, if applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances; for the institutions a research, training and networking contribution and a management and indirect contribution. The applicable amounts are set in the MSCA part of the Work Programme and the HE MSCA Financial Guide.
There is no fixed budget per project: the grant follows from the person-months requested, up to 540 person-months per network.
In Part A, each beneficiary enters its total person-months (for example 3 researchers for 36 months = 108), consistent with the doctoral candidates table (3.1d) in Part B1.
Doctoral candidates are employed under an employment contract with full social security (a fixed-amount fellowship is an exception that halves the living allowance).
Secondments of 6 months or less requiring mobility are financed from the research, training and networking contribution.

🤝 Collaborations & synergies

Successful networks and their doctoral candidates are associated with RAISE, the Resource for AI Science in Europe, and become part of its research community.

📋 Implementation, tasks & required activities

What the network implements

Doctoral candidates recruited through an open, transparent and merit-based procedure, advertised internationally (including EURAXESS).
A supervisory board coordinating network-wide training, research and supervision, in line with the Guidelines for MSCA supervision.
Network-wide training complementing the local programmes: research skills and transferable skills (digital skills such as generative AI, open science, knowledge valorisation, entrepreneurship, research integrity), following the EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training.
Secondments to other participating organisations, including in third countries, when relevant for the researcher.
A Career Development Plan established jointly by the supervisor(s) and each doctoral candidate at recruitment, revised within 18 months.

Implementation modes

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.

📜 Project contractual documents

Grants are signed on the HE Unit Model Grant Agreement. During grant preparation, mandatory deliverables are added, among which:

establishment of the supervisory board of the network (month 2);
progress report (month 13) and a mid-term meeting with the granting authority;
mobility declaration for each recruited researcher;
career development plan;
researcher evaluation questionnaires;
data management plan and plan for the dissemination and exploitation of results, including communication.

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.

📊 Coverage

Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.

See how your concept covers this call

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.

Scope activities6requirements

Expected outcomes9requirements

Other requirements0requirements

Expected impacts0requirements

Underlying policies1requirements

Requirements matrix

Coverage of the call requirements
Requirement	Covered by	Carried	Status
Scope activities
SC1Doctoral candidates are to either develop or significantly participate in the development of innovative AI systems, models, tools or methodologies for their scientific domain, which must substantially innovate the way in which scientific information is analysed and enable a scientific contribution furthering the state of the art in the discipline.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC2Make the development of the AI tool, model or methodology an integral and indispensable part of the research work, clearly delineated in the research work package, with scientific advancements directly dependent on the capabilities and application of these AI algorithms to drive scientific inquiry, prediction, or understanding.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC3Achieve research results in the domain-scientific discipline of the doctoral research through using innovative AI techniques, going beyond a unique focus on computer-scientific AI development or the instrumental use of existing AI systems, methodologies, or general-purpose computational tools for data processing/statistical analysis.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC4Provide all doctoral candidates with dedicated doctoral-level training on AI in science.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC5Associate successful RAISE Doctoral Networks and doctoral candidates with RAISE (the Resource for AI Science in Europe), integrating them into the RAISE research community and facilitating interaction with its members.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC6Submit the proposal to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2026, declaring interest in being considered for the RAISE Doctoral Networks and demonstrating that the proposal falls within the scope of the RAISE call and meets MSCA admissibility/eligibility conditions.	·	·	Sign up to track
Expected outcomes
EO1New research and transferable skills and competences in the application of AI in science, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia;	·	·	Sign up to track
EO2New knowledge allowing the conversion of ideas into products and services, where relevant;	·	·	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.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO4Improved quality, relevance and sustainability of doctoral training programmes and supervision arrangements;	·	·	Sign up to track
EO5Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines;	·	·	Sign up to track
EO6Increased integration of training and research activities between participating organisations;	·	·	Sign up to track
EO7Boosted R&I capacity and uptake of AI in science;	·	·	Sign up to track
EO8Increased internationalisation and attractiveness;	·	·	Sign up to track
EO9Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations.	·	·	Sign up to track
Other requirements
No other requirements in this call.
Expected impacts
No expected impacts in this call.
Underlying policies
POL1european charter for researchers and the code of conduct for the recruitment of researchersThe European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (updated by the Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe) outline the principles governing researchers' rights, obligations, and working conditions. They establish standards for open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R) and fair career progression across the European Research Area.	·	·	Sign up to track

Scope activities

SC1Sign up

Doctoral candidates are to either develop or significantly participate in the development of innovative AI systems, models, tools or methodologies for their scientific domain, which must substantially innovate the way in which scientific information is analysed and enable a scientific contribution furthering the state of the art in the discipline.

·

SC2Sign up

Make the development of the AI tool, model or methodology an integral and indispensable part of the research work, clearly delineated in the research work package, with scientific advancements directly dependent on the capabilities and application of these AI algorithms to drive scientific inquiry, prediction, or understanding.

·

SC3Sign up

Achieve research results in the domain-scientific discipline of the doctoral research through using innovative AI techniques, going beyond a unique focus on computer-scientific AI development or the instrumental use of existing AI systems, methodologies, or general-purpose computational tools for data processing/statistical analysis.

·

SC4Sign up

Provide all doctoral candidates with dedicated doctoral-level training on AI in science.

·

SC5Sign up

Associate successful RAISE Doctoral Networks and doctoral candidates with RAISE (the Resource for AI Science in Europe), integrating them into the RAISE research community and facilitating interaction with its members.

·

SC6Sign up

Submit the proposal to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2026, declaring interest in being considered for the RAISE Doctoral Networks and demonstrating that the proposal falls within the scope of the RAISE call and meets MSCA admissibility/eligibility conditions.

·

Expected outcomes

EO1Sign up

New research and transferable skills and competences in the application of AI in science, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia;

·

EO2Sign up

New knowledge allowing the conversion of ideas into products and services, where relevant;

·

EO3Sign up

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.

·

EO4Sign up

Improved quality, relevance and sustainability of doctoral training programmes and supervision arrangements;

·

EO5Sign up

Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines;

·

EO6Sign up

Increased integration of training and research activities between participating organisations;

·

EO7Sign up

Boosted R&I capacity and uptake of AI in science;

·

EO8Sign up

Increased internationalisation and attractiveness;

·

EO9Sign up

Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations.

·

Other requirementsNo other requirements in this call.

Expected impactsNo expected impacts in this call.

Underlying policies

POL1Sign up

european charter for researchers and the code of conduct for the recruitment of researchers

·

✅ Eligibility

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.

Minimum 3 partners

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Minimum 3 countries

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At least 1 Member State

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LMIC entities auto-eligible

Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Affiliated entities

Affiliated entities are not allowed to participate, as they cannot claim costs in MSCA Doctoral Networks.

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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).

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540 person-months

The EU contribution is limited to 540 person-months per network, for all three modes.

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Durations

Project up to 48 months (60 for DN-JD). Each fellowship 3 to 36 months (up to 48 for DN-JD).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Submission through MSCA DN 2026

Submitted to MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 with section 11 of Part B2 completed (opt-in and justification of the fit with the RAISE scope).

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🎯 Structuring choices

🎯 Choices to make before applying

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.

Implementation mode

msca-dn-implementation-mode

TrackPick exactly 1

Choose how the proposal is evaluated. The mode is stated on the start page and in the header of every page of Part B1 and Part B2.

DN

Standard Doctoral Network (DN)

At least 3 beneficiaries. Doctoral candidates recruited for 3 to 36 months; secondments up to half of each recruitment. Joint supervision encouraged. Project up to 48 months.

DN-ID

Industrial Doctorate (DN-ID)

Each doctoral candidate spends at least 50% of the fellowship in the non-academic sector and is jointly supervised by the academic and the non-academic sector. No ceiling on secondments. Project up to 48 months.

DN-JD

Joint Doctorate (DN-JD)

Every doctoral candidate is enrolled in a joint, double or multiple degree; at least 3 participating organisations award doctoral degrees, one of them in an EU Member State or Associated Country. Letters of pre-agreement in Part B2, joint governance, mandatory joint supervision. Recruitment up to 48 months, project up to 60 months.

Scientific panel

msca-dn-panel

TopicPick exactly 1

The panel is no longer picked directly: it is the panel of the first project descriptor selected in the submission forms (General Information, Project Descriptors: 3 to 5 descriptors from the MSCA keywords list). Choose the first descriptor early.

CHE

Chemistry (CHE)

SOC

Social Sciences and Humanities (SOC)

ECO

Economic Sciences (ECO)

ENG

Information Science and Engineering (ENG)

ENV

Environment and Geosciences (ENV)

LIF

Life Sciences (LIF)

MAT

Mathematics (MAT)

PHY

Physics (PHY)

🧭 Strategy

🧭 Strategic insights

6 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.

#1

RAISE is an opt-in of an MSCA DN proposal

There is no separate submission: the proposal is submitted to MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 and opts in by completing section 11 of Part B2 (1 page), the only place where RAISE is mentioned. Part A has no opt-in box. All DN admissibility and eligibility conditions apply.

Source: Topic description; Guide for Applicants DN 2026

#2

Final ranking adds a relevance check to the MSCA score

Proposals are first evaluated with the MSCA criteria and scores. A cross-panel list of the best-ranked RAISE proposals (about 3 times the budget) is then assessed by experts for relevance to the RAISE topic; the final ranking combines both.

Source: Topic description

#3

AI must drive the domain science, not serve it instrumentally

Doctoral candidates develop or significantly contribute to innovative AI systems, models, tools or methodologies that change how scientific information is analysed in their discipline. Using existing AI or general-purpose tools for data processing, or results only in computer-science AI venues, is out of scope. Delineate the AI development in the research work package.

Source: Topic description, scope

#4

Every doctoral candidate gets doctoral-level training on AI in science

The call asks for dedicated doctoral-level training on AI in science for all doctoral candidates: build it into the network-wide training programme (Table 1) and the individual training plans.

Source: Topic description, scope

#5

Every criterion needs at least 3, the panel follows the first descriptor

The DN 2026 rules apply in full: at least 3 out of 5 on each criterion, 70% overall, Excellence 50% / Impact 30% / Implementation 20%, and the panel is set by the first project descriptor chosen in the submission forms.

Source: Guide for Applicants DN 2026

#6

Respect the 540 person-months and the 40% rule

Exceeding 540 person-months or giving more than 40% of the EU contribution to one country makes the proposal ineligible, for the DN call and therefore for RAISE.

Source: Guide for Applicants DN 2026

🏷 Keywords

RAISEAI in scienceResource for AI Science in EuropeMSCA Doctoral Networksdoctoral candidatesAI systems, models and methodologiesdomain-scientific discoveryscientific machine learningdoctoral-level training on AI in sciencejoint supervisionCareer Development Plantransferable skillsinter-sectoral secondmentsopen scienceFAIR dataresearch integrityreproducibilityinterdisciplinarityEURAXESSemployability

🧩 Project backbone

0%Concept coverage

Build your project backbone 🧩

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.

Not chosen yet

Structuring choice

The branch you're building for — it shapes what the call expects of you, and what your coverage is measured against.

🎯 Choices to make before applying

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.

Implementation mode

msca-dn-implementation-mode

TrackPick exactly 1

Choose how the proposal is evaluated. The mode is stated on the start page and in the header of every page of Part B1 and Part B2.

DN

Standard Doctoral Network (DN)

At least 3 beneficiaries. Doctoral candidates recruited for 3 to 36 months; secondments up to half of each recruitment. Joint supervision encouraged. Project up to 48 months.

DN-ID

Industrial Doctorate (DN-ID)

Each doctoral candidate spends at least 50% of the fellowship in the non-academic sector and is jointly supervised by the academic and the non-academic sector. No ceiling on secondments. Project up to 48 months.

DN-JD

Joint Doctorate (DN-JD)

Every doctoral candidate is enrolled in a joint, double or multiple degree; at least 3 participating organisations award doctoral degrees, one of them in an EU Member State or Associated Country. Letters of pre-agreement in Part B2, joint governance, mandatory joint supervision. Recruitment up to 48 months, project up to 60 months.

Scientific panel

msca-dn-panel

TopicPick exactly 1

The panel is no longer picked directly: it is the panel of the first project descriptor selected in the submission forms (General Information, Project Descriptors: 3 to 5 descriptors from the MSCA keywords list). Choose the first descriptor early.

CHE

Chemistry (CHE)

SOC

Social Sciences and Humanities (SOC)

ECO

Economic Sciences (ECO)

ENG

Information Science and Engineering (ENG)

ENV

Environment and Geosciences (ENV)

LIF

Life Sciences (LIF)

MAT

Mathematics (MAT)

PHY

Physics (PHY)

📄 Application forms

📄 Technical application form (Part B)

🛠

Fully managed by GrantForge

Click Create proposal above to start writing this form inside GrantForge. The structure below is what we generate for you.

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".

Part B1 — at most 34 pages

Start page (1 page), table of contents (1 page), list of participating organisations with the data for non-academic beneficiaries and the declarations table (at most 2 pages). Section 1 must start on page 5.
1. Excellence: 1.1 objectives, individual research projects of the doctoral candidates and pertinence beyond the state of the art; 1.2 methodology (interdisciplinarity, gender dimension, open science); 1.3 training programme with Table 1 (network-wide training events); 1.4 quality of the supervision.
2. Impact: 2.1 structuring doctoral training; 2.2 career perspectives and employability; 2.3 dissemination, exploitation and communication, IP strategy; 2.4 scientific, societal and economic impacts.
3. Implementation: 3.1 work packages (Table 3.1a), deliverables (3.1b), milestones (3.1c), doctoral candidates (3.1d), project risks (3.1e), and for DN-JD the joint procedures; 3.2 capacity and role of each participant.
Sections 1 to 3: 30 pages maximum, freely allocated. Excess pages are blanked out.

Part B2 — no overall page limit

4. Recruitment strategy · 5. Network organisation · 6. Supervisory board with the table of supervisors and their gender · 7. Environmental aspects (MSCA Green Charter) · 8. Participating organisations (1 page per beneficiary, half a page per associated partner) · 9. Letters of pre-agreement (DN-JD) · 10. Declaration on the use of AI · 11. RAISE DN (only to opt in, 1 page).

Format

A4, margins of at least 15 mm, minimum 11 points for text and tables, single line spacing; reference font Times New Roman. Literature references as footnotes (8 points minimum), counted in the page limit.