MSCA Fellowships: A Launchpad for Maritime Innovations

Navigating Innovation: How MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships Propel Maritime Research Forward

What Are MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships?

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are part of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation program. These fellowships aim to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers by providing them with opportunities to work abroad, gain interdisciplinary skills, and engage in high-impact projects.

Key features include:

• International Mobility: Fellows can conduct research in any country participating in Horizon Europe, promoting cross-border collaboration.
• Interdisciplinary Projects: The program encourages innovative research that cuts across traditional disciplines.
• Skills Development: Beyond research, fellows receive training in transferable skills like communication, project management, and entrepreneurship.

Why the Maritime Sector?

The maritime industry is a cornerstone of global trade, energy, and environmental health. It faces pressing challenges such as decarbonization, biodiversity conservation, and the adoption of digital technologies. These challenges align closely with the EU’s strategic priorities, making the sector a natural fit for MSCA-funded research.

Maritime-related topics for MSCA projects include:

• Green Shipping: Developing low-carbon propulsion systems, including hydrogen and electric technologies.
• Ocean Health: Studying the impacts of human activity on marine ecosystems and finding solutions to pollution.
• Digitalization: Integrating artificial intelligence, blockchain, and autonomous systems into maritime logistics and navigation.
• Climate Change: Analyzing the effects of rising sea levels and warming oceans on coastal communities and marine biodiversity.

In 2024, the European Research Executive Agency received an impressive 10,360 proposals for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, marking a 29% increase from the 8,039 submissions in 2023. Proposals were coordinated by organizations spanning 40 countries across the EU and Horizon Europe-associated nations.

The distribution of proposals by country of coordination highlights the United Kingdom leading with 19.9%, followed by Spain (13.1%), Italy (11.6%), France (9%), Germany (8.3%), and The Netherlands (4.8%). Other notable contributors include Denmark (4.4%), Belgium (3.8%), Sweden (3.6%), Ireland (3.3%), Norway (2.9%), and Portugal (2.7%), with additional representation from Austria (2.4%), the Czech Republic (2.3%), Finland (2%), Poland (0.9%), Greece (0.8%), and Slovenia (0.7%). This diverse participation underscores the broad appeal and collaborative potential of the MSCA program.