The MSCA Staff Exchanges Webinar for South Africa was successfully held on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, online, bringing together members of the South African research and innovation community to explore opportunities under Horizon Europe. Organised in close cooperation with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) South Africa, 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, with 122 participants joining from academia, industry, and policymaking sectors.
The two-hour webinar aimed to raise awareness of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), with particular emphasis on the MSCA Staff Exchanges 2026 call. Participants received a comprehensive overview of the scheme, including key call priorities, eligibility and participation requirements, proposal preparation, evaluation criteria, and practical guidance on navigating the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The programme combined policy and programme insights from the European Commission and the European Research Executive Agency (REA) with practical experiences and success stories from South African MSCA beneficiaries and project partners. The webinar also included an interactive live Q&A session, encouraging direct engagement between participants and speakers.
The event served as an important capacity-building and introductory activity for research managers, policymakers, researchers and institutions interested in Horizon Europe, fostering cross-sectoral networking and supporting future MSCA collaborations between South Africa, Africa, and European partners.
The presentations delivered during the event are available below:
- MSCA Staff Exchanges Success Story and Institutional Experience, Prof. Wu Toit, Stellenbosch University, MSCA Staff Exchanges Beneficiary
- Introduction to MSCA-GLOPOL and Objectives of the Webinar, Dr. Yedilfana Setarge, Regional Liaison Officer, MSCA-GLOPOL for South Africa/African Union
- South Africa and MSCA Opportunities, Dr. Maphuti Madiga, National Contact Point for MSCA and Representative of DSTI South Africa
- Overview of the MSCA Staff Exchanges 2026 Call, Dora Czifra, MSCA Unit, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission
- Proposal Submission and Evaluation Process under MSCA Staff Exchanges, Nancy Dzokoto Pomenya, European Research Executive Agency (REA)
- Practical Guidance on Proposal Development and Institutional Support, Lizél Senekal, Manager: Multi-National Grants, Stellenbosch University
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