MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026

The HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01 call is part of the Horizon Europe program, aimed at funding MSCA Doctoral Networks. This initiative will establish doctoral programs through partnerships among universities, research institutions, research infrastructures, businesses (including SMEs), and other socio-economic actors from various countries in Europe and beyond, including third countries. The objective is to address specific needs in various Research and Innovation areas while exposing researchers to both academic and non-academic sectors. The programs will provide training in research-related skills and competencies that enhance innovation and long-term employability.

The call emphasizes the importance of Industrial and Joint Doctorates, which allow doctoral candidates to gain skills in industry through joint supervision between academic and non-academic organizations. Additionally, Joint Doctorates involve collaboration leading to multiple doctoral degrees recognized across countries.

Each network must establish a supervisory board for coordinating training and research activities, emphasizing continuous communication and best practice sharing. Training should align with identified research needs and focus on developing new scientific knowledge through original research.

Applications will be submitted during a single-stage process, open from May 28, 2026, to November 24, 2026. A total budget of approximately €593 million is allocated for this call, which will provide unit-based grants covering living allowances, mobility costs, training activities, and institutional management expenses. Although specific success rates are not detailed, the program is highly competitive and aims for a strong international collaboration framework.

The expected outcomes include improved employability and career prospects for researchers, enhanced knowledge transfer between sectors, increased integration of training and research activities, and greater international attractiveness for participating organizations. Overall, this call represents a key investment in developing the next generation of researchers and innovators, contributing to the sustainability of the European research landscape.

The HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01 call, under the Horizon Europe program, focuses on MSCA Doctoral Networks. The call aims to establish doctoral programs through partnerships involving universities, research institutions, research infrastructures, businesses (including SMEs), and other socio-economic actors from various countries within Europe and beyond. Participation is open to organizations from third countries to foster strategic international research training partnerships.

The doctoral programs are designed to address specific needs in various Research and Innovation (R&I) areas. They aim to expose researchers to both academic and non-academic sectors, providing training in research-related skills and transferable competences that enhance innovation and long-term employability. These skills include entrepreneurship, commercialization of results, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), and communication. Proposals can reflect existing or planned research partnerships among participating organizations.

The selection process for doctoral candidates must adhere to the European Charter for Researchers, ensuring it is open, transparent, and merit-based. Vacancy notices should be widely advertised internationally, including on the EURAXESS website, and must specify whether published rates include all employer and employee taxes and contributions. Publishing the gross salary is encouraged.

The program encourages Industrial and Joint Doctorates:

Industrial Doctorates: Doctoral candidates gain skills in industry and business through joint supervision by academic and non-academic organizations, which can be located in the same EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Joint Doctorates: These involve highly integrated international, inter-sectoral, and multi/interdisciplinary collaboration in doctoral training, leading to joint, double, or multiple doctoral degrees recognized in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Each MSCA Doctoral Network must establish a supervisory board to coordinate network-wide training, research, and supervision activities, adhering to MSCA supervision guidelines. Continuous communication and best practice exchange among participating organizations are essential.

Training activities should exploit complementarities between participating organizations, fostering knowledge sharing and networking through workshops and conferences. Training should address identified needs in R&I areas, referencing inter- and multidisciplinary fields, and follow the EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training. The primary focus should be on developing new scientific knowledge through original research on personalized projects.

Inter-sectoral secondments of researchers to other participating organizations, including those in third countries, are encouraged to enhance researchers' employability outside academia.

Doctoral Networks should develop substantial training modules covering key transferable skills and competences, including digital skills (e.g., generative AI). They should promote Open Science, knowledge valorization, innovation, entrepreneurship, and research integrity. Candidates should be prepared for careers in research, increased research collaboration, and information sharing using new digital technologies, such as collaborative tools, open access to publications, FAIR data management, and citizen science.

Emphasis is placed on the quality of supervision, mentoring, and career guidance. Joint supervision is mandatory for Industrial and Joint Doctorates.

A Career Development Plan must be jointly created by the supervisor and each doctoral candidate, involving all supervisors in cases of joint supervision. This plan should address research objectives, training, career needs, transferable skills, teaching, publication planning, and participation in conferences and events that promote open science and citizen engagement. The plan should be established at the start of recruitment and revised within 18 months.

RAISE Doctoral Networks provide specific support to networks focusing on the use of AI in science.

The expected outcomes for supported doctoral candidates include:

New research and transferable skills and competences, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia.

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

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.

The expected outcomes for participating organizations include:

Improved quality, relevance, and sustainability of doctoral training programs and supervision arrangements.

Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines.

Increased integration of training and research activities between participating organizations.

Boosted R&I capacity.

Increased internationalization and attractiveness.

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

The call includes three types of actions:

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN-JD: HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks - Joint Doctorates

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN-ID: HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks - Industrial Doctorates

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN: HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks

The type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) for all actions is HORIZON Unit Grant [HORIZON-AG-UN].

The call follows a single-stage submission process.

The planned opening date is 28 May 2026.

The deadline for submission is 24 November 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The total budget for the call is EUR 593,033,846 for the year 2026.

Applicants must adhere to the admissibility conditions outlined in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may apply to non-EU/non-Associated Countries, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other eligible conditions are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial setup of the grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

A variety of application form templates are available in the Submission System, including those for HE RIA, IA, CSA, RI, PCP, PPI, COFUND, FPA, MSCA PF, MSCA DN, MSCA SE, MSCA COFUND, MSCA COFUND CE, ERC STG, ERC COG, ERC ADG, ERC POC, ERC SYG, EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES, EIC PATHFINDER OPEN, EIC TRANSITION, EIC STEP, and EIC Accelerator proposals.

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations.

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, Framework Partnership Agreement FPA), and call-specific instructions.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 (General Introduction, MSCA, Research Infrastructures, Health, Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, Civil Security for Society, Digital, Industry and Space, Climate, Energy and Mobility, Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, European Innovation Ecosystems, Widening participation, Missions, New European Bauhaus Facility, Horizontal Activities, and General Annexes), EIC Work Programme 2026, ERC Work Programme 2026, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and rules for Legal Entity Validation and Financial Capacity Assessment.

The MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call is a significant funding opportunity under Horizon Europe, designed to foster high-quality doctoral training programs. It encourages partnerships between academic and non-academic organizations across Europe and beyond, promoting interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral collaboration. The call aims to equip doctoral candidates with the skills and knowledge needed for successful careers in research and innovation, while also enhancing the R&I capacity and attractiveness of participating organizations. By supporting Industrial and Joint Doctorates, the program seeks to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering innovation and knowledge valorization. The call also emphasizes the importance of open science, research integrity, and the use of digital technologies in research collaboration. Overall, this call represents a strategic investment in the next generation of researchers and innovators, contributing to the competitiveness and sustainability of the European research landscape.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are universities, research institutions, research infrastructures, businesses including SMEs, and other socio-economic actors from different countries across Europe and beyond. The program is open to the participation of organizations from third countries as well.

Funding Type: The funding type for this opportunity is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Unit Grant.

Consortium Requirement: This opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants, forming a network.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes countries across Europe and beyond, including organizations from third countries. The program specifically mentions EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: This program targets all R&I areas, with a focus on doctoral training, research, innovation, and development of transferable skills. It also emphasizes inter-sectoral and multi/interdisciplinary collaboration. Specific support is provided to networks with a primary focus on the use of AI in science through RAISE Doctoral Networks.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and unspecified third countries are mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on the implementation of doctoral programs, which implies a stage of development and implementation rather than just idea or research.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 593,033,846 for the year 2026. The funding amount per grant is variable, depending on the network's size and scope.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support the doctoral programs.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01 call, under the Horizon Europe program, aims to fund MSCA Doctoral Networks. These networks are partnerships of universities, research institutions, businesses (including SMEs), and other socio-economic actors, both within Europe and internationally. The goal is to implement doctoral programs that address well-defined R&I needs, expose researchers to both academic and non-academic sectors, and provide training in research-related and transferable skills. The program encourages Industrial and Joint Doctorates, emphasizing inter-sectoral secondments and the development of substantial training modules. A supervisory board is required for each network to coordinate training and research activities. The call is open to a wide range of R&I areas, with specific support for networks focusing on AI in science through the RAISE Doctoral Networks. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline of November 24, 2026. The total budget for the call is EUR 593,033,846. The funding is provided as a HORIZON Unit Grant.