About 50% more MSCA Doctoral Network proposals submitted to the 2024 deadline

29th November 2024 at 9:48 am

The recent submission deadline for the MSCA Doctoral Networks (DNs) on 27 November 2024 attracted many more proposals than ever before during Horizon Europe. This year`s call was marked by a higher budget than in previous years and possibly attracted more applications, expecting chances of success than in previous years. However, given the increase in the monthly researchers’ allowances and most country correction coefficients due to the rising cost of living, the costs per doctoral candidate (DC) also increased. As a consequence, and despite the overall budget increase, we initially assumed that the success rates would not significantly increase. Were we right? Let’s have a look at the statistics.

A total of 1,417 proposals were submitted, a record since the start of Horizon Europe, including 1,249 standard DNs, 80 Industrial Doctorates (DN-IDs) and 88 Joint Doctorates (DN-JDs).

As communicated in the official press release, the European Commission plans to fund around 190 projects. This would lead to a success rate of 13.5%, which is in line with the success rates in the previous years.

A look into the share per DN type shows an increased interest in standard DNs (88%), while applications in IDs and JDs remain marginal (both at 6%). We suppose that consortia with industry beneficiaries preferred to opt for a standard DN with an attractive industry-oriented framework rather than a DN-ID where DCs must spend at least 50% of their employment period in the private sector. The latter option requires considerable effort to establish consortia capable of facilitating this arrangement and, if funded, to implement it.

Results expected in April 2025

As stated on the EC`s official MSCA webpage, the evaluation results will be communicated in April 2025, and the first successful DNs are expected to start in September 2025.

The next deadline is on 25 November 2025. Applications that scored below 80 this year will not be eligible for resubmission. All other applications can be resubmitted.

Our track record and services from FP7 to Horizon Europe

We have long-standing experience from more than two dozen ITNs/DNs including the DNs BREAKthrough, CONcISE, DarChemDN, MITGEST, MobiliTraIN and SYNSENSO and the ID MIRELAI. Our primary role typically involves assisting with proposal writing and supporting the preparation of the Grant Agreement. During the implementation phase, we join the consortium as an Associated Partner, providing support with communication and dissemination activities, project administration, and contributing to the training of Doctoral Candidates through training sessions on science communication and grant writing among others.

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Jacqueline Strehler
Research & Innovation Project Manager

Dr. Jörn-Frederik Wotzlaw
Research & Innovation Project Manager