MSCA-GLOPOL ASEAN webinar on MSCA Best Practice Sharing and Matchmaking Session with MSCA coordinators successfully held

On 13 May 2026, the MSCA-GLOPOL ASEAN team organised a webinar on “MSCA Best Practice Sharing and Matchmaking Session with MSCA Coordinators”. The session brought together experienced coordinators of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) projects to share practical insights on building international research consortia and strengthening collaboration between Europe and Southeast Asia.

The webinar attracted participants from 27 countries, including researchers, universities, research institutes, start-ups, and innovation organisations interested in expanding engagement with Horizon Europe and MSCA opportunities.

Robin Gadbled, Policy Officer, DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission welcomed the participants (find his presentation here). Two testimonial speakers shared first-hand experiences, practical lessons learned, and valuable recommendations from coordinating international MSCA projects:

• Dr Radu Ionescu, Senior Researcher and Principal Investigator at Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU), Estonia, and MSCA Staff Exchanges Coordinator of the research projects “Analysis of the volatile organic compounds emitted by extracellular vesicles for disease diagnosis (VOLATEVS)” and “Volatolomic approaches for improving success rates in assisted reproductive technology (ARTVOC )”
• Dr Sergio Moya, Group Leader at CIC biomaGUNE, Spain, and MSCA Staff Exchanges Coordinator of the research projects “Hemoglobin based Protein Nanocarriers for Tumour Oxygenation and a more effective Photodynamic Therapy (OXIGENATED) and “Supramolecular Polyamine Gene Vectors for Cancer Therapy (SUPROGEN)”.

The session provided practical guidance for organisations interested in joining future MSCA and Horizon Europe consortia. Discussions focused on:

• How successful coordinators identify and select consortium partners 
• What European coordinators expect from collaborators in Southeast Asia 
• How partnerships are managed effectively across institutions and sectors 
• Common challenges and lessons learned from international collaboration 
• How organisations can strengthen readiness for future Horizon Europe and MSCA opportunities 

The active participation and discussion throughout the webinar reflected the growing interest in deeper research and innovation collaboration between ASEAN and Europe. The session formed part of the broader efforts of the MSCA-GLOPOL ASEAN initiative to support stronger engagement with European research institutions and funding opportunities.

The MSCA-GLOPOL presentation is available here.

For more information the “Webinar Brief” is available here.