MSCA programme in HE

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fund excellent research and innovation and equip researchers at all stages of their career with new knowledge and skills, through mobility across borders and exposure to different sectors and disciplines. The MSCA help build Europe’s capacity for research and innovation by investing in the long-term careers of excellent researchers.

The MSCA also fund the development of excellent doctoral and postdoctoral training programmes and collaborative research projects worldwide. By doing so, they achieve a structuring impact on higher education institutions, research centres and non-academic organisations.

The MSCA promote excellence and set standards for high-quality researcher education and training in line with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers.

There are 5 types of MSCA targeting different objectives.

  • Doctoral Networks (DN)
    Supporting programmes to train doctoral candidates in academic and non-academic organisations.
  • Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF)
    Supporting career perspectives and excellence of postdoctoral researchers.
  • Staff Exchanges (SE)
    Encouraging collaborations between organisations through staff exchanges.
  • COFUND
    Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes.
  • MSCA and Citizens
    Bringing research and researchers closer to the public at large.

More information on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions is available here.

MSCA Doctoral Networks (DN) Projects

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MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) projects

EcoFoams: Isocyanate Free Self-Blowing Biobased Circular Foams

Specific programme: HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01 submitted for HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

UPV/EHU Partner Status: Beneficiary
UPV/EHU PI: Haritz Sardón Muguruza

Project start:  01/05/2024
Project end:  30/04/2026

Brief description:

Plastics have been key materials to be aligned with the European Union´s Sustainable Development Goals. This promise stems from its lightweight, low-density nature while maintaining favorable mechanical, thermal, and insulating properties. Nevertheless, plastic production still lacks sustainability, primarily relying on fossil resources. Indeed, less than one percent of the annual plastic production (390 million tons), originates from renewable sources. This heavy reliance on fossil resources exacerbates global warming, as the extraction, production, and disposal of these materials release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Furthermore, in Europe, less than 20% of post-consumer plastic waste is recycled. In the realm of plastics, polymer foams merit special attention for their versatility, combining the main unique plastic properties while minimizing material usage. Foams serve two main purposes: flexible types for uses like packaging and cushioning, and rigid foams for insulation, construction, and high mechanical strength needs. Despite their remarkable properties, foam production relies on nonrenewable resources and toxic chemicals like isocyanates and phosgene. Additionally, their exceptional performance relates to their highly crosslinked nature, which also renders these materials challenging to recycle, or often, non-recyclable. The central goal of EcoFoams is to develop biobased foams that not only match the manufacturing process and performance of commercially available foams but also offer recyclability and reprocessability. To do so EcoFoams will explore the use of S-Alkylation Reaction to produce selfblown polycarbonate (PC) and polyhydroxurethane (PHU) foams without using toxic isocyanates. Dr. Gabriel Perli, under the guidance ofProf. HaritzSardon,Polymat (University of the Basque Country,Spain), will endeavour to pioneer the EcoFoams that are both more sustainable and exhibit excellent performances.

MSCA COFUND projects