The Networking and Brokerage Event Ukraine Horizon Europe MSCA Staff Exchanges Call 2026 was successfully held online on February 16, 2026. The event gathered members of the Ukrainian research and innovation community to explore collaboration opportunities under Horizon Europe MSCA SE programme. Organised in close cooperation with the Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), and the MSCA-GLOPOL project, the online event attracted strong interest of predominantly academic institutions, while participation from the non-academic sector demonstrated a significant engagement.

The 2-hour Info Day aimed to raise awareness of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), with particular emphasis on Staff Exchanges (MSCA SE). Participants received a comprehensive overview of MSCA SE rules for participation. The programme combined policy insights from the European Commission with practical guidance on proposal preparation, partner search tools on the Funding and tenders portal, and evaluation criteria. Experienced and successful researchers from Ukraine complemented this agenda with a success stories from their successful MSCA SE projects. As this event had a networking and matchmaking character, in the last part participants were able to hear potential expertise requests from a Norwegian institution searching for Ukrainian partner(s) for a proposal intended to be submitted under MSCA SE 2026 call. Also, seven Ukrainian research institutions presented their potential, capacities and ideas for participation in this programme. 

The event served as an important capacity-building and an introductory event for newcomers to Horizon Europe and MSCA SE programmes. Focused on institutional collaboration, the event facilitated fostering cross-sectoral networking and laying the groundwork for future MSCA collaborations involving participating organisations from Ukraine.

The presentations delivered during the event are available below:

Presentation of MSCA SE 2026 Call and tips for preparations

• Dr Taranov Igor, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor, Head of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, National Research Foundation of Ukraine. Download here.
• Dóra Czifra,  Policy Officer, Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission. Download here.
• Sandra Pinto Marques, European Research Executive Agency. Download here.

Testimonials from successful MSCA SE projects

• Kateryna Priazhnikova, Dnipro University of Technology. Download here.
• Olena Rzhepishevska, Umeå University. Download here.

Flash presentations for matchmaking

• Natalia Mitrofanova, Center for Language, Brain and Learning, Norway. Download here.
• Ievgeniia Dragomirova, Donetsk State University of Internal Affairs. Download here. 
• Oleh Lysak, Institute of Renewable Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Download here. 
• Sergii Mamykin, V Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Download here. 
• Petro Skrypchuk, National University of Water and Environmental Engineering. Download here.
• Oleksandr Tarasov, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, NAAS of Ukraine,  Kyiv. Download here.
• Aurika Paskar, Chernivtsi National University. Download here.
• Vladislav Vlastopulo, Harvard Marine, Kyiv. Download here.