The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges (SE) Webinar in Tunisia was successfully held on 11 March 2026, bringing together members of the Tunisian research and innovation community to explore opportunities under Horizon Europe. Organised in close cooperation with the University Grants and Projects Office (UGPO-HE) under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) in Tunisia and the MSCA-GLOPOL project, the event attracted strong interest from researchers, university representatives, research managers, and innovation stakeholders. Participation was predominantly from academic and research institutions, demonstrating a high level of engagement from the Tunisian research ecosystem.  

The 2.5-hour Info Day aimed to raise awareness of the MSCA, with particular emphasis on the MSCA Staff Exchanges call and opportunities for Tunisian organisations. Participants received a comprehensive overview of the Horizon Europe programme and the 2026–2027 Work Programme, as well as practical guidance on eligibility conditions, consortium building, proposal preparation, and financial aspects of the programme. The programme combined policy insights and programme presentation with hands-on guidance, including a workshop on proposal preparation and a success story from an MSCA-funded project, providing participants with practical perspectives on how to successfully apply for MSCA funding.  

The event served as an important capacity-building and introductory initiative for newcomers to Horizon Europe, fostering dialogue within the Tunisian research community and encouraging greater participation in MSCA Staff Exchanges collaborative projects.

The presentations delivered during the event included:

• Welcome Remarks, Ahmed Maalel, MSCA GLOPOL Regional Liaison Officer
• Presentation of Horizon Europe within the 2026-2027 Work Programme: A Driver of Excellence for Research and Innovation in Tunisia, Helmi Mardassi, Director General, UGPO-HE, MHESR
• MSCA Staff Exchanges Call 2026: Opportunities for Tunisian Institutions, Hela Hassairi, Leila Triki, Mohamed Kefi, MSCA National Contact Points for Tunisia
• Hands-on Workshop: Preparation and Submission of the Project Proposal, MSCA NCP Team
• Staff Exchanges Success Story: How to be excellent enough to get the funding?, Noureddine Allouche, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax – GreenCosmIn MSCA-SE Project

Q&A Session and Closing Remarks