The MSCA National Info Day in Algeria was successfully held on 26 January 2026 at Université Salah Boubnider Constantine 03, bringing together members of the Algerian research and innovation community, particularly from universities in the western region of the country, to explore opportunities under Horizon Europe. Organised in close cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the European Commission Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, and the MSCA-GLOPOL project, the hybrid five-hour Info Day attracted strong interest and demonstrated a high level of engagement, with a predominantly academic audience.

The event aimed to raise awareness of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, with a particular focus on Doctoral Networks (DN) and Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF). Participants received a comprehensive overview of MSCA opportunities, including policy perspectives from the European Commission, detailed guidance on the 2026 Doctoral Networks call, proposal preparation, evaluation criteria, and partner search tools such as the Funding & Tenders Portal and EURAXESS. The programme was further enriched by practical tips, interactive discussions, and success stories from Algeria. Overall, the Info Day served as an important capacity-building and introductory event for newcomers to Horizon Europe, fostering dialogue, networking, and laying the groundwork for future MSCA collaborations involving Algerian institutions.

The Info Day opened with an Introduction to Horizon Europe and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) delivered by Dr Samira Chader, Sous-Directrice des Programmes de Coopération Universitaire et de Recherche at the Direction de la Coopération et des Échanges Universitaires, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The opening session was complemented by Dr. Sohail Luka, Senior Expert and Policy Officer at the MSCA Unit, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), European Commission. View his presentation here. This segment provided participants with an overview of Horizon Europe, explained where MSCA is positioned within the programme, highlighted the participation and opportunities for Algeria, and introduced the Doctoral Networks Call 2026, including its objectives and scope.

A dedicated session was then led by Ms Cristina Gomez, representing the MSCA-GLOPOL Management Team, focusing on proposal structure and evaluation criteria (Excellence, Impact, and Implementation). She also shared practical tips and recommendations for drafting competitive proposals, as well as information on existing support mechanisms such as the National Contact Points or EURAXESS. View her presentation here.

This was followed by an onsite intervention from Mr Ahmed Maalel, Regional Liaison Officer for Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, with support for Jordan, who presented the practical aspects of participation, including how to apply via the Participant Portal and partner search tools such as the Funding & Tenders Portal and EURAXESS.

The programme concluded with an interactive session entitled “Success Stories from Algeria: How to Achieve Excellence to Secure Funding?”, allowing participants to engage directly through questions and answers and to benefit from concrete experiences. The event closed with final remarks, summarising key takeaways and encouraging Algerian institutions to actively engage in upcoming MSCA calls.