MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 – South Africa Webinar: Strengthening International Research Collaboration and Capacity Building

The MSCA-GLOPOL webinar on Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks, focused on South Africa, was successfully convened online on 19 June 2026, bringing together South African research and innovation stakeholders to explore opportunities under Horizon Europe. The event attracted 225 registered participants from more than 35 South African institutions, with 130 actively participating in the online session. The strong participation demonstrated substantial interest across the research ecosystem, encompassing universities, research organisations, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The webinar aimed to raise awareness of the 2026 MSCA Doctoral Networks call, providing detailed information on eligibility criteria, evaluation processes, and quality standards for competitive proposals. Valuable testimonials from current MSCA beneficiaries shared practical experience in participation and implementation of funded projects, offering both institutional and individual perspectives.

The event advanced GLOPOL’s mission to promote global cooperation and strengthen South Africa’s engagement in Horizon Europe, fostering new opportunities for international collaborative research partnerships. As an interactive forum, the webinar enabled participants to deepen their understanding of MSCA Doctoral Networks and engage directly with experts and policymakers.

The event agenda is available here.

The presentations delivered during the event are available below:

• Dr. Maphuti Madiga, Deputy Director for Research Development at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) in South Africa and the MSCA NCP for South Africa, delivered opening remarks outlining DSTI’s support mechanisms for South African institutions and encouraged participants to engage with the MSCA-DN call. 
• Dr. Yedilfana Setarge, MSCA-GLOPOL Regional Liaison Officer for South Africa/African Union. Introduction of the webinar objectives and Overview of the MSCA-GLOPOL project. View the presentation here.
• Lea Thiel, project advisor at the European Research Executive Agency (REA), European Commission. Presented the objectives, priorities, eligibility criteria, and evaluation process for the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call. View the presentation here.