“A transparent and well-designed recruitment process is essential for the success of international doctoral programmes. Equally important is the ability to draw on the complementary expertise of partner institutions, whose diversity of experience and perspectives represents one of the greatest strengths of MSCA projects.”
Describe your institution’s experience with MSCA
The University of Basel has extensive experience participating in MSCA COFUND programmes through initiatives such as QUSTEC and Gen-Q, both supporting doctoral training in quantum science and technology. Through these programmes, the university has hosted and trained numerous doctoral candidates within highly international and interdisciplinary research environments.
The institution has experienced both direct participation under European Commission funding and participation through the Swiss national replacement funding scheme during Switzerland’s period of non-association to Horizon Europe. According to the programme experience, the differences between the two funding models were relatively limited. While some adaptations were required during proposal preparation and programme administration, the scientific collaboration, training activities, and overall implementation remained largely unchanged.
Participation in these programmes has enabled the University of Basel to strengthen international partnerships, expand collaborative research networks, and contribute to high-quality doctoral training in a strategically important scientific field.
How has participation in MSCA benefited your institution?
Participation in MSCA COFUND programmes has significantly strengthened the University of Basel’s doctoral training capacity and international research profile. The programmes have created vibrant international research environments that bring together doctoral candidates, supervisors, and partner organisations from different countries and disciplines.
A key benefit has been the enhancement of transnational cooperation and the establishment of long-term collaborations between participating institutions. The programmes have also provided doctoral candidates with valuable transferable skills training, networking opportunities, and exposure to interdisciplinary and intersectoral perspectives beyond their core research activities.
Furthermore, participation has demonstrated the value of combining expertise from diverse institutions and organisations.
What is the added value brought by MSCA?
MSCA COFUND programmes provide a unique framework for creating highly international, interdisciplinary, and collaborative doctoral training environments. They not only support excellent research but also strengthen transferable skills, networking opportunities, and long-term institutional partnerships that continue beyond the lifetime of individual projects.
Project description
QUSTEC
International, interdisciplinary and intersectoral doctoral programme in Quantum Science and Technologies
Generation Quantum
A pan-European doctoral programme to train the future generation of quantum engineers in Europe
QUSTEC and Gen-Q are MSCA COFUND doctoral training programmes coordinated by the University of Basel in the field of quantum science and technology. The programmes aim to train the next generation of researchers through excellent doctoral education, international mobility, and interdisciplinary collaboration. They provide doctoral candidates with advanced scientific training while also developing transferable skills through networking, intersectoral exposure, and collaboration with leading academic and research institutions. QUSTEC was implemented under direct European Commission funding, while Gen-Q operated through the Swiss national replacement funding scheme during Switzerland’s non-association to Horizon Europe.
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