Dear colleagues,

Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine of the NRFU would like to inform you that an international Virtual Brokerage Event dedicated to the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call will take place on 15-16 July 2026 within the framework of the RADIANCE project.

The RADIANCE project brings together organisations that promote the opportunities offered by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), foster international research cooperation, and support the preparation of competitive project proposals.

In the context of the open MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call, the event offers prospective applicants an opportunity to start identifying partners and building international consortia well in advance of proposal preparation.

The event aims to support partner search activities for consortium building and proposal development under the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call. Participants will have the opportunity to establish new professional contacts, present their project ideas, identify potential beneficiaries and associated partners, and discuss prospects for future collaboration.

Representatives of universities, research institutions, research centres, small and medium-sized enterprises, large companies, public authorities, hospitals, museums, non-governmental organisations, and other organisations from around the world are invited to participate.

The event will be held online on 15-16 July 2026, from 09:00 to 20:00 (GMT+2), enabling participants from different countries and time zones to join.

To participate, applicants should:

• register on the event platform;
• add information about their expertise, project idea, or partner search request;
• after profile validation, schedule bilateral meetings with potential partners.

Registration is available at: https://www.b2match.com/e/msca-2026

We would also like to remind you that on 28 May 2026, the European Commission launched the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) component of the Horizon Europe Programme. The call aims to support the next generation of researchers through the implementation of international doctoral programmes and the promotion of interdisciplinary and intersectoral cooperation.

The deadline for proposal submission is 24 November 2026.

Further information on the call conditions is available on the Horizon Europe Office website in the article MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 Call Launched: New Opportunities for Training Early-Stage Researchers.

On 19 June 2026, specialists of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine (NRFU) held a working meeting with representatives of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine (FEU).

The meeting was organised at the request of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine to provide an overview of the opportunities offered by the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe and to discuss potential areas of cooperation.

Representing the Federation of Employers of Ukraine were Anatolii Pushkar, Chair of the Technical Regulation Committee, Yaroslava Yurchenko, Director of the Technical Regulation Department, as well as other Federation representatives, who provided detailed information on the FEU’s activities, its participation in international projects, and its interest in taking part in Horizon Europe calls for proposals.

During the meeting, the Office specialists presented general information on Horizon Europe, including its structure, the main support instruments available to participants, opportunities for Ukrainian organisations to engage in international research and innovation projects, and partner search mechanisms. The discussion also focused on the role of businesses in the implementation of Horizon Europe projects, the specific features of participation for Ukrainian organisations, and the existing barriers to their deeper integration into the European Research Area.

Particular attention was paid to strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities. The Office specialists introduced participants to the opportunities provided by the European Defence Fund (EDF) and discussed prospects for the participation of Ukrainian organisations in relevant projects.

Representatives of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine expressed their interest in further developing cooperation, particularly with regard to fostering business engagement in innovation activities, enhancing competencies in the field of standardisation, and increasing the participation of Ukrainian organisations in international projects.

The meeting, which brought together more than 20 participants, served as a platform for information exchange and for outlining future avenues of cooperation aimed at promoting the opportunities of Horizon Europe among representatives of the Ukrainian business community.

Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine (NRFU) informs that on 24 June 2026, the European Innovation Council (EIC) will host an online information session dedicated to new opportunities for supporting innovation in the fields of dual-use and defence technologies. The event will take place from 10:00 to 12:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST).

During the session, participants will learn about the planned amendments to the EIC 2026 Work Programme, which aim to expand access to funding for projects in the areas of dual-use and defence technologies. In particular, the updated programme will open the EIC Accelerator to innovations with both civilian and military applications, while also launching a dedicated STEP Scale Up call focused on scaling up defence technologies.

Participants will receive detailed information on the new eligibility criteria, application and evaluation procedures, key call deadlines, and practical aspects of participation. The organisers will also explain the opportunities available to start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and other innovative organisations active in these fields.

The programme will include an overview of the policy context behind the changes, a presentation of the technical aspects of the EIC Accelerator for dual-use projects, an introduction to the new EIC STEP Defence Scale Up call, and a question-and-answer session.

The event will be held in English and will take place online. Registration is open until 23 June 2026.

More information and the registration form are available via the link.

On 11 June 2026, the second day of the study visit of the representatives of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) took place.

The programme of the second day focused on practical mechanisms for supporting researchers, innovation organisations and applicants to the Horizon Europe Programme, as well as on the role of the National Contact Point (NCP) network in providing high-quality support to participants throughout all stages of project preparation and implementation.

During the first thematic session, TÜBİTAK representatives presented Türkiye’s approaches to the use of instruments under the Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA) programme. Participants discussed support mechanisms for research institutions, researchers and innovation organisations aimed at strengthening research capacity, fostering international partnerships and enhancing integration into the European Research Area.

Particular attention was devoted to Türkiye’s experience in supporting applicants to the European Research Council (ERC) calls. Turkish colleagues presented the national system of advisory support, applicant preparation schemes and additional incentive mechanisms that contribute to increasing the competitiveness and success rate of Turkish applicants in ERC calls.

As part of the study visit, the Ukrainian delegation also visited the Middle East Technical University Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications (METU-GÜNAM), one of Türkiye’s most advanced and comprehensive research infrastructures in the field of solar energy. Established in 2009 on the initiative of the Middle East Technical University (METU), the centre conducts cutting-edge research in solar technologies, materials science and renewable energy. During the visit, the Office specialists were introduced to the centre’s research laboratories, key areas of scientific activity and participation in international research projects, including those funded under European Union programmes. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to exchange experience on the development of modern research infrastructures and their role in supporting innovation and international scientific cooperation.

During the final session, the delegation explored opportunities offered by networking projects and other technical assistance instruments available to Horizon Europe participants. Special attention was paid to support services for project coordinators that can be used at various stages of proposal preparation, submission and project implementation.

The study visit concluded with a summary of the key outcomes and discussions on prospects for future cooperation between the Ukrainian and Turkish sides. Representatives of both organisations confirmed their interest in continuing the exchange of experience, strengthening professional contacts between the NCP networks and working together to increase the participation of the research and innovation community in Horizon Europe.

The knowledge and good practices gained during the visit will serve as a valuable foundation for the further development of support services for Horizon Europe participants in Ukraine and will contribute to the deeper integration of the Ukrainian research and innovation community into the European Research Area.