RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science (RAISE pilot)

The RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science (RAISE Pilot) is a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically aimed at fostering doctoral training in Artificial Intelligence applied to scientific research. This initiative builds upon the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions 2026 call. The program is targeted at international consortia comprising universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs, and other non-academic organizations that can offer comprehensive doctoral training.

Eligible applicants must form consortia consisting of at least three independent legal entities from different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. The geographical scope includes EU nations and associated countries, with some provisions for third countries to participate without direct EU funding eligibility.

The main sector targeted is Artificial Intelligence, with a focus on developing innovative AI systems, models, and methodologies that advance scientific research across various disciplines such as materials science, agriculture, and environmental studies. The total budget for the opportunity is €90 million, divided into three €30 million action types for Standard Doctoral Networks, Joint Doctorates, and Industrial Doctorates, with individual grants typically falling within the €1M-€5M range based on the number of doctoral candidates supported.

The application process involves a single-stage submission method, where proposals must be submitted to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks 2026 call by a specified deadline. Financial support is provided as grants covering costs related to doctoral training, researcher salaries, and other project-related expenses. Proposals are assessed against MSCA criteria, with a secondary evaluation for relevance to the RAISE topic.

Success rates have not been specified, but competitive evaluation practices suggest that funding would be limited, with comparable programs experiencing rates around 10-20%. Importantly, no explicit co-funding requirement is stated, although additional organizational support might enhance proposals.

Successful projects will contribute significantly to training the next generation of researchers capable of applying AI in scientific contexts, addressing both the talent gap in AI and enhancing Europe’s competitiveness in this vital research area. The initiative encourages cooperation between academic and non-academic sectors and aims to improve the overall quality of doctoral training programs while fostering international collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science (RAISE pilot) call, under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, aims to foster doctoral training in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to scientific research. This call builds upon the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2026 call (HORIZON-MSCA-DN-2026).

The expected outcomes for supported doctoral candidates include the development of new research and transferable skills in AI applications within science, enhancing their employability and career prospects both inside and outside academia. It also aims to generate new knowledge that can be translated into products and services, alongside improved networking and communication skills with peers and the public, thereby broadening the impact of research and innovation.

For participating organizations, the call seeks to improve the quality, relevance, and sustainability of doctoral training programs and supervision. It aims to enhance cooperation and knowledge transfer between different sectors and disciplines, increase the integration of training and research activities, boost R&I capacity and the adoption of AI in science, increase internationalization and attractiveness, and ensure that research results regularly inform teaching and education.

The scope of this call is specifically focused on AI in science. Proposals must clearly demonstrate how they meet this criterion. Doctoral candidates are expected to either develop or significantly contribute to the development of innovative AI systems, models, tools, or methodologies relevant to their scientific domain. These AI-driven innovations should substantially improve the analysis of scientific information and contribute to advancing the state of the art in the doctoral research discipline.

The development of AI tools, models, or methodologies must be an integral and indispensable part of the research work, clearly delineated within the research work package. The scientific advancements of the project should be directly dependent on the capabilities and application of AI algorithms to drive scientific inquiry, prediction, or understanding.

Proposals should aim to achieve research results within the domain-scientific discipline of the doctoral research by using innovative AI techniques. A mere focus on computer-scientific AI development or the instrumental use of existing AI systems for data processing is discouraged. All doctoral candidates are expected to receive dedicated doctoral-level training in AI in science.

To apply for the RAISE Doctoral Networks call, applicants must submit their proposal to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2026. During the proposal stage, applicants can express their interest in being considered for the RAISE Doctoral Networks and should demonstrate that their proposal aligns with the scope of the RAISE call.

The proposals submitted under the RAISE Doctoral Networks must meet all admissibility and eligibility conditions of the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026. The RAISE proposals will be evaluated using the MSCA award criteria and scoring system.

Following the MSCA evaluation, a cross-panel list of fundable RAISE proposals will be created, including the highest-ranking reserve list proposals. This list will be ranked based on MSCA evaluation scores and will include proposals with a requested budget as close as possible to three times the available budget. Experts will then assess the relevance of these proposals to the RAISE topic. The final ranking of RAISE proposals will consider both the MSCA score and the assessment of relevance to the RAISE topic.

The general conditions for participation include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, which are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Additional eligibility criteria require that proposals meet all admissibility and eligibility conditions of the MSCA Doctoral Networks call 2026 and pass all thresholds for that call, as described in the MSCA part of the Work Programme.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in the MSCA part of the Work Programme.

The submission and evaluation processes include additions to the general award criteria, with specific conditions for weighting and thresholds found at the end of the MSCA Work Programme part. Admissibility, eligibility criteria, procedure, and legal and financial setup of the Grant Agreement are subject to exceptions and specific conditions for MSCA Doctoral Networks in the MSCA Work Programme part.

The expected EU contribution depends on the number of person-months requested, with applicable unit contributions specified in the MSCA Work Programme part. Evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual, with specific MSCA evaluation processes detailed on the REA website.

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 is described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes, with exceptions and specific conditions in the MSCA part of the Work Programme. Specific conditions are also outlined in the MSCA part of the Work Programme.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the standard application form (HE MSCA DN). Evaluation form templates, including the standard evaluation form (HE MSCA), will be used with necessary adaptations. Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.

Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the HE Unit MGA. Call-specific instructions are available in the Guide for Applicants. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 (General Introduction, MSCA, Horizontal Activities, and General Annexes), the HE Programme Guide, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, rules for legal entity validation, LEAR appointment and financial capacity assessment, the EU Grants AGA, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement.

The budget overview indicates a total budget of 30,000,000 EUR for the year 2026. The call follows a single-stage submission process, with a planned opening date of May 28, 2026, and a deadline of November 24, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The call encompasses HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks, HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks Joint Doctorates, and HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks Industrial Doctorates.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited by LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

Applicants are advised to carefully read all provisions before preparing their application. The Online Manual serves as a guide for procedures from proposal submission to grant management. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ addresses frequently asked questions. The Research Enquiry Service can answer questions about European research. National Contact Points (NCPs) offer guidance and assistance. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) provides advice to businesses, especially SMEs. The IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks advise on standardisation. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment outline principles and requirements for researchers. Partner Search tools help find partner organizations.

In summary, this opportunity is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting the development of doctoral networks focused on the application of Artificial Intelligence in various scientific disciplines. It aims to train doctoral candidates in innovative AI techniques, enabling them to contribute significantly to scientific advancements. The call emphasizes the integration of AI tool development as an integral part of the research process and encourages proposals that go beyond mere computer-scientific AI development, focusing instead on achieving tangible research results within specific scientific domains. Successful networks will become part of the RAISE community, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across Europe. The application process involves submitting a proposal to the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call, indicating interest in the RAISE Doctoral Networks, and demonstrating alignment with the call's scope. The evaluation process considers both the MSCA evaluation scores and the relevance of the proposal to the RAISE topic, ensuring that funded projects contribute meaningfully to the advancement of AI in science.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text, but it is implied that they include organizations capable of hosting and training doctoral candidates within a network. This would typically include universities, research institutes, and potentially large enterprises or other organizations with significant research and development capacity. The focus is on entities that can form a consortium to provide comprehensive doctoral training.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Unit Grant, as indicated by the "Type of MGA" (Model Grant Agreement) being "HORIZON Unit Grant [HORIZON-AG-UN]". The EU contribution depends on the number of person-months requested, with applicable unit contributions detailed in the specific conditions for MSCA Doctoral Networks.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is designed for doctoral networks, implying a consortium of multiple applicants is required. The call aims to foster cooperation and knowledge transfer between different sectors and disciplines, suggesting that a single applicant would not be sufficient.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. The text mentions that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions for funding their participants, referencing the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for more details. This suggests a broad eligibility, potentially including EU, associated countries, and some third countries with specific funding arrangements.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is Artificial Intelligence (AI) in science. The call specifically aims to support doctoral networks that focus on the development and application of innovative AI systems, models, tools, or methodologies within various scientific domains. The goal is to advance research in domain-specific disciplines through the use of AI techniques.

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" and "third-countries" generally, but does not explicitly list any specific countries. The eligibility is tied to Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, which would contain the specific country lists.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on doctoral training and research, indicating a stage of research and development. The projects are expected to result in scientific advancements and innovation in AI methodologies, suggesting a maturity level beyond the initial idea stage but before commercialization or scale-up. The projects should lead to publications and contribute to the state of the art in the respective scientific disciplines.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 30,000,000. The actual funding amount per grant will vary depending on the number of person-months requested and the applicable unit contributions, as specified in the MSCA Work Programme.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call, as indicated by "Deadline model: single-stage". Applicants must submit a complete proposal by the specified deadline.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant. The EU contribution is based on unit costs related to person-months, covering the costs of doctoral training and research activities.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage, meaning applicants submit a full proposal in one go.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science (RAISE pilot) call, part of the Horizon Europe program and building on the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026, aims to foster doctoral training in the field of Artificial Intelligence applied to various scientific disciplines. This initiative supports doctoral candidates in developing innovative AI systems, models, tools, and methodologies that can significantly advance scientific research. The program encourages collaboration and knowledge transfer between academic and non-academic sectors, enhancing the quality and relevance of doctoral training. Eligible applicants are expected to form consortia capable of providing comprehensive doctoral training and supervision. The funding is provided through HORIZON Unit Grants, with the EU contribution depending on the number of person-months requested. The call is open to entities from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some third countries with specific funding arrangements. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline of November 24, 2026. Successful networks will become part of the RAISE research community, contributing to the advancement of AI in science across Europe. The total budget for this call is EUR 30,000,000.