Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks (DN) 2026 Call Opens for Applications
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks (DN) 2026 Call officially opened for applications on 28 May 2026. The deadline for submission of proposals is 24 November 2026.
With a total budget of €593 million, the call is expected to support more than 130 projects across all scientific disciplines and contribute to the training and skills development of approximately 2,115 doctoral candidates.
MSCA Doctoral Networks enable universities, research organisations, research infrastructures, businesses (including SMEs), and other relevant organisations to establish international consortia and implement innovative doctoral training programmes. The programme aims to train creative, entrepreneurial, innovative, and resilient doctoral candidates, strengthen researchers’ career prospects both within and beyond academia, and promote international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility.
Doctoral candidates supported under MSCA Doctoral Networks benefit not only from advanced research training but also from opportunities to develop transferable skills in areas such as entrepreneurship, intellectual property rights, commercialisation of research results, science communication, and open science. The programme also seeks to foster sustainable cooperation and knowledge transfer between academic and non-academic sectors.
Proposals may be submitted under one of the following three formats:
- Doctoral Networks (DN)
- Industrial Doctorates (ID)
- Joint Doctorates (JD)
The European Commission's announcement of the call opening is available here.
Applicants can also consult the updated guidance page containing practical advice on preparing a successful proposal.
Up-to-date information compiled by the TÜBİTAK MSCA National Contact Points is available here.
For any questions regarding the call, applicants are welcome to contact the Turkish MSCA National Contact Points at: ncpmobility@tubitak.gov.tr
New in 2026: RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science
A key novelty of the 2026 call is the introduction of the RAISE Doctoral Networks (Research and Innovation in AI for Science in Europe), a pilot initiative funded under Horizon Europe Cluster 4. With a dedicated budget of €30 million, RAISE Doctoral Networks will support doctoral training programmes that place Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the service of scientific discovery and research. The initiative aims to equip a new generation of researchers with interdisciplinary skills at the interface of AI and science, while strengthening Europe’s capacity to use AI to accelerate scientific breakthroughs across disciplines.
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 Info Day
To provide detailed information on the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 Call, the European Commission will organise an online Info Day on 3 June 2026.
The event will cover the objectives of the call, participation rules, evaluation process, and practical tips for preparing successful proposals. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to European Commission representatives during the Q&A session.
Further information and registration details are available at: