Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks (MSCA DN)

The Doctoral Networks Action is aimed at organisations such as universities, research centres, companies or other socio-economic actors that propose a research training network.

The partnership must consist of at least 3 participants (e.g. universities, research centres, companies/SMEs) from 3 different Member States and/or countries associated with the European Union; at least one beneficiary must be established in a Member State and at least one beneficiary or associated partner must be able to award a doctoral degree. Researchers are recruited for a minimum period of 3 and a maximum of 36 months full-time (maximum 48 months in the case of a JD). The EU contribution covers a total of 540 person-months.

Specific rules apply to the following types of consortia:

Industrial Doctorates: the minimum partnership consists of 3 participants, located in 3 different Member States and/or countries associated with the EU; at least one beneficiary must be established in a Member State and at least one beneficiary or associated partner must be able to award a doctoral degree. Researchers must spend at least 50% of their time with the non-academic partner.

Joint Doctorates: the partnership must include at least 3 participants, located in 3 different Member States and/or countries associated with the EU and authorised to award a doctoral degree. At least one participant awarding a joint, double or multiple PhD must be located in a Member State or associated country. Researchers must obtain the double, multiple or joint PhD.

The purpose of the DN Action is to offer doctoral candidates the opportunity to gain experience in different sectors and to develop their transferable skills. The funding covers:

• the recruitment and training of each PhD candidate for a maximum of 3 years (4 years in the case of a Joint Doctorate)
• a monthly allowance paid to each PhD candidate to cover mobility costs and, where applicable, family, long-term leave or special needs expenses
• research costs, managed by the Host Institution, including for the organisation of joint activities and conferences;
• overheads and management costs allocated to the Host Institution.

The maximum duration of an MSCA-DN project is 4 years (5 years in the case of a Joint Doctorate project).

For further information on the call: 
https://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/actions/doctoral-networks

For information on the support provided by the University of Padua, you can contact the International Research Office at the following address: individual.grants@unipd.it