MSCAdvocacy — International Advocacy for the Strategic Alignment of MSCA Cooperation Mechanisms in Key Partner Countries and Regions

Results in brief

International Advocacy for the Strategic Alignment of MSCA Cooperation Mechanisms in Key Partner Countries and Regions

The aim of the MSCAdvocacy project was to contribute to a more strategic promotion of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) in 20 target countries (Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, India, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, USA) and six regions (African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Eastern Partnership countries, Latin American and Caribbean States, Mediterranean Partnership countries and, Western Balkans) around the world, with which the European Union (EU) has signed research and innovation (R&I) cooperation agreements. Such strategic promotion ultimately would better align the funded MSCA to broader EU policies, while addressing challenges specific for each targeted country and region, such as unbalanced researchers flows towards and from the EU; decline in MSCA participation due to e.g. lack of co-funding mechanisms or weaknesses in MSCA dissemination in certain countries. For fulfilling its objectives, the MSCAdvocacy project performed a cartography of the MSCA in the different countries and regions under the EU's R&I framework programme Horizon 2020 (H2020; 2014-2020) as a reference point and in Horizon Europe (HEU; 2021-2027), deriving trends in the participation (increase/decrease) per type of MSC action. Moreover, the project provided intelligence about challenges, barriers and opportunities for strategic MSCA promotion, in the form of policy briefs addressed to the European Commission (EC). The methodological approach of MSCAdvocacy included desk research, identification of key stakeholders in each country and region, online interviews and surveys, as well as implementation of in-person fact-finding missions to the 20 target countries. Regional stakeholders were addressed through online interviews and workshops. At the end of the three years implementation period of the project, recommendations have been prepared for a more strategic promotion of the MSCA in the future, to better align the funded actions to EU’s policies and priorities.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The aim of the MSCAdvocacy project is to provide direct support to better align MSCA cooperation mechanisms of 20 key partner countries and 6 regions with the European Commission’s Global Approach to Research and Innovation. The project will become the strategic link between 1) the European Union’s external policy objectives, 2) bilateral and bi-regional S&T agreements with key partner countries and regions, 3) the corresponding R&I cooperation roadmaps and action plans, and 4) MSCA promotion in the field. With MSCA being the central international component of Horizon Europe (HE), its researcher mobility programmes directly contribute to the objective of the EC’s Global Approach such as strengthening commitment to international openness and fundamental values, rebalancing towards a level playing field and reciprocity, ensuring a free exchange of ideas and fostering research in key areas such as a green transition, the digital transition, global health, and innovation. However, in several key partner countries and regions MSCA do not seem to reach their full strategic potential in line with the objectives mentioned above. Hence, the project will do its part in supporting the strategic alignment of participation and cooperation mechanisms for MSCA to the priorities set on policy level. This will be achieved by 1) reviewing broader policy orientations and monitoring existing cooperation mechanisms with the target countries and regions relevant for MSCA; 2) conducting a Coordination and Support Mission to the targeted countries and regions in order to promote MSCA cooperation opportunities; 3) adressing analyses, reviews, and policy briefs to bilateral and bi-regional R&I policy dialogues; 4) and providing recommendations for long-term strategic promotion in MSCA consistent with EU R&I bilateral and bi-regional cooperation roadmaps and action plans.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV · KOLNCoordinatorGermany
CENTRO INTERNAZIONALE DI ALTISTUDI AGRONOMICI MEDITERRANEI · ValenzanoItaly
CERISS - KENTRO PERIFEREIAKON KAI DIETHNON MELETON KAI YPOSTIRIXIS MONOPROSOPI IKE · Palaio FaliroGreece
SOCIEDADE PORTUGUESA DE INOVACAO CONSULTADORIA EMPRESARIAL E FOMENTO DA INOVACAO SA · PortoPortugal
ZENTRUM FUR SOZIALE INNOVATION GMBH · WienAustria

MSCAdvocacy · International Advocacy for the Strategic Alignment of MSCA Cooperation Mechanisms in Key Partner Countries and Regions

Results in brief

International Advocacy for the Strategic Alignment of MSCA Cooperation Mechanisms in Key Partner Countries and Regions

Project objective

Participants

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