The 2025 call for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND scheme has closed with a record 136 proposals submitted, which is a significant increase from previous years
This scheme, funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, supports the development of high-quality doctoral and postdoctoral training schemes across Europe.
Massive demand for doctoral and postdoctoral funding
The COFUND scheme allows organisations to launch or expand their fellowship programmes by co-funding excellent doctoral and postdoctoral opportunities. The 2025 call, which closed on 24 June, will allocate €105.6 million in EU funds to support around 30 new projects.
In 2024, the COFUND call received 81 proposals, 27 of which were selected for funding. Those included 12 doctoral training programmes and 15 postdoctoral fellowship initiatives. The 2025 figures show an almost 70% increase in applications, indicating the growing appeal and reputation of the MSCA COFUND scheme.
Wider geographic participation
Proposals for this year’s COFUND call came from organisations based in 27 countries.
Successful projects often involve multiple partners from the EU, and this further strengthens international collaboration in research and innovation.
Selected programmes will recruit and train researchers in a variety of disciplines, reinforcing the scheme’s emphasis on interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility.
Participating institutions are expected to have high standards in researcher recruitment, working conditions, and career development.
Supporting excellent research and career development
The COFUND scheme is designed to improve the quality of research training and career development for both doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers.
- Doctoral programmes provide structured research training, enabling candidates to develop a broad range of academic and transferable skills while pursuing their doctoral degree.
- Postdoctoral programmes support individual researchers with advanced research training and professional development opportunities, helping them build sustainable careers in and beyond academia.
By combining EU funding with additional institutional resources, COFUND helps host organisations boost their research capacity and attract top-tier international talent. This contributes not only to scientific excellence but also to regional socio-economic development.
Seal of Excellence to recognise high-quality proposals
To further support innovation, the European Commission will award Seal of Excellence certificates to applicants whose proposals meet the scheme’s high standards but cannot be funded due to budget limitations. This recognition is intended to help organisations seek alternative funding sources by validating the quality of their proposals.
Promoting sustainable, global research networks
The MSCA COFUND programme aims to spread best practices in research training and foster international mobility. Participating researchers benefit from diverse learning environments, exposure to multiple sectors, and opportunities to collaborate across borders and disciplines.
By equipping researchers with a wide range of skills and experiences, the programme enhances their employability, nurtures creativity, and builds resilient global research networks.
