The Project

Our mission: strengthening global research through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

International collaboration is at the heart of excellent research. The European Union’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are a world-leading initiative for developing research talent and fostering connections across borders, sectors and disciplines. With a €6.6 billion budget (2021-2027), the MSCA have supported over 145 000 researchers since 1996, making it a global benchmark for excellence. The programme proudly counts Nobel laureates among its fellows and supervisors.

The programme’s reach is truly global. Under Horizon 2020, it involved organisations from 139 countries and researchers of 160 different nationalities (40% from non-EU countries)

MSCA-GLOPOL is an EU-funded project designed to strengthen these international partnerships and expand MSCA opportunities worldwide. With 40% of all project participations already coming from outside the EU, our mission is to increase the reach and strategic impact of the MSCA, ensuring the benefits of research are shared even more widely.

Over 36 months, our work focuses on three core activities:

• Mapping opportunities: We analyse cooperation trends and listen to researchers, institutions and policymakers to identify opportunities and challenges for international collaboration within MSCA.
• Boosting participation: We actively promote MSCA calls and share best practices to help more researchers and organisations from our targeted regions participate successfully.
• Creating connections: We connect MSCA with other major EU research and innovation initiatives, opening new pathways for talent and strengthening the overall ecosystem of global cooperation.

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Our consortium: a partnership of expertise

MSCA-GLOPOL is delivered by a dedicated consortium that combines high-level policy expertise with an unparalleled global research community.

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Our global network: people on the ground

The strength of MSCA-GLOPOL lies in its people. Our work is supported and guided by a diverse network of experts and stakeholders from around the world.

Regional Liaisons (RLs)

At the heart of our project is the Regional Liaison Network, our key strength for creating global impact. A team of 13 Regional Liaisons (RLs) are strategically placed on the ground to cover our 26 target geographies.

Our RLs are more than just representatives; they are local experts with deep national and regional knowledge. Their role is to:

• Map and engage with key stakeholders, from universities to industry and policymakers.
• Gather first-hand insights by disseminating surveys and convening expert focus groups.
• Identify high-impact events and lead promotional activities to boost participation in MSCA.
• Animate Coordinated MSCA Promotion Groups (CMPGs) in each region, creating synergy between local actors.
• Contribute to policy development by providing crucial data and analysis from their regions.

Coordinated MSCA Promotion Groups (CMPGs)

In each region, we establish promotion groups that bring together key local actors—including National Contact Points (NCPs), EURAXESS representatives and MCAA Chapters. These groups work together to create synergies and coordinate the promotion of MSCA opportunities.

Advisory Board

The project benefits from strategic guidance from an Advisory Board composed of senior experts and policymakers from our target regions. The board provides high-level feedback and helps ensure our activities are aligned with broader policy objectives and global research trends.

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Our geographical focus

To maximise our impact, MSCA-GLOPOL focuses on strengthening cooperation with 26 key international partner countries and regions across the globe. These countries and regions have been strategically selected based on existing Science & Technology (S&T) Agreements with the EU or long-standing bi-regional policy dialogues.