Opportunities under FP7 Marie Curie
Actions - Host Actions
Estelle Kane and Cecilie Hansen
UK National Contact Point for MCAs
[email protected]
http://www.ukro.ac.uk
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Central Laboratory of the Research Councils
UK Research Office
Economic and Social Research Council
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Medical Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
UKRO’s Aim
UK Research Office
…promotes effective UK participation in
EU-funded research programmes, higher education
programmes, and other related activities…
Based in Brussels, UKRO:
•
•
•
Provides early insight and briefing;
Disseminates EU funding opportunities;
Provides high quality guidance and training;
Exchanges information between the UK and EU
UKRO Services include…
UK Research Office
• Website with information on programmes, FAQs and
Guidance http://www.ukro.ac.uk
• Information services – email updates (& searchable database)
• Enquiry service
• Annual visit from an UKRO European Advisor
• Specialist training courses and information events
• Annual conference for European officers
• Meeting room in Brussels
• Monthly publication - British Council ‘RTD Insight’
• National Contact Point (Marie Curie and ERC)
UK Research Office – MC NCP
Marie Curie NCP - helpdesk
• Web, email, telephone, visits
• Advice on applying for MC actions:
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•
•
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Eligibility
Application help
Results
Contractual issues
• Advice to those with MC contracts:
• Social security and tax
• Model agreements between host and fellow
• Contractual issues
FP7 – Outline of Session
Outline of the session
Introduction to the Framework 7 Programme
Opportunities to support training of early stage researchers:
Initial Training Networks
Opportunities to support staff exchanges and recruitment of
researchers between industry and academia:
Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways
How to apply and tips on writing your proposals
Introduction to FP7 and the Marie Curie
Actions
UK NCP for Marie Curie
Estelle Kane
Cecilie Hansen
UK Research Office
http://www.ukro.ac.uk
FP7 – Policy Background
Policy Background
• FP7 is designed to achieve the Lisbon and
Barcelona objectives and to complement
activities in Member States.
• Support to the European Research Area
• Budget of €50 521 million
• Complementarity with other EC programmes:
•
•
•
Competitiveness and Innovation
Education and Training
Structural Funds
EU Countries
EU-27
FP7 – Participation
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta,
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, UK
Associated Countries (FP6)
Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Norway,
Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia
International Co-operation
A. Participation of international organisations and
participants from third countries in addition to minimum
requirements
FP7 Participation
B. Specific International Cooperation Actions (SICA) require
at least four participants: two in MS or AC, two in ICPC
International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC)
•
listed in Annex 1 of the Work Programme
Western Balkans countries
Mediterranean Partner countries
Eastern European and Central Asian countries
Africa Caribbean Pacific
Latin America
Asia
FP7 – International cooperation
ICPC countries
FP7 Specific Programmes
Framework Programme 7
Co-operation – Collaborative Research
European Research Council
Marie Curie Actions
Capacities – Research Capacity
JRC
EURATOM
FP7 – People – Marie Curie
Marie Curie Actions
Objectives and Policy Context:
• Make Europe more attractive to researchers
• Structuring effect on the European Research Area
through transnational and intersectoral mobility in order
to create a European labour market for researchers
• Strengthen human potential by:
• Encouraging people to become researchers
• Encouraging researchers to carry out their research
in Europe
• Trans-national and inter-sectoral mobility
• €4.7 Billion
FP7 – People – Marie Curie
Principles
• Skills and competence development at all
stages of researchers career
• Open to all research areas addressed under
the Treaty plus possibility of targeted calls
• Strong participation from enterprises
• Reinforce international dimension
• Appropriate gender and work/life balance
• Good working environment, transparent
recruitment and career development
Overview of Marie Curie Actions
People Specific Programme
Host Actions
Individual Actions
Initial Training Networks
Intra- European
Fellowships
Industry Academia
Partnerships and Pathways International Incoming
Fellowships
International Outgoing
Fellowships
European Reintegration
Grants
International Reintegration
Grants
Specific Actions: Marie Curie Awards, Researcher’s
Night
How does this compare to FP6?
FP7 – People – Marie Curie
FP7
ITN
FP6
Directly transferable?
Indirectly transferable?
Research Training
Networks, ESTs
Series of Events
Chairs
Lifelong Learning Intra-European, European
Re-integration
IndustryAcademia
ToK – Industry-Academia
Strategic Partnership
International
Incoming/Outgoing
International, International
Re-integration
Specific Actions
ERA-More, EXA, Code and
Charter Follow-up
Series of Events
MCA – Budget breakdown
14.5 3 0.25
24
24
ITN
IEF
ERG
FP7 – Marie Curie
38.4
IAPP
9.5
IOF
240
IIF
IRG
72
NIGHT
AWARDS
€ Million
MCA - Deadlines
FP7 – People – Marie Curie
Initial Training Networks (ITN)
7 May 2007
Two stage application
Intra- European Fellowships (IEF) Call expected 28 February with a
closing date of 14 August 2007
International Incoming
Fellowships (IIF)
International Outgoing
Fellowships (IOF)
European Reintegration Grants
(ERG)
International Reintegration
Grants (IRG)
25 April & 17 October 2007
Industry-Academia Partnerships
& Pathways (IAPP)
Call expected 28 February with a
closing date of 31 May 2007
FP7 – People – Marie Curie
Central to all MC projects
The RESEARCHER, their training and mobility
In order to assess eligibility (for project or
fellowship), it is essential that you consider
the following:
• The minimum or maximum amount of research
experience stipulated for the action
• The transnational mobility
requirements for the action
FP7 – Marie Curie Actions
Definition of researchers
Early-Stage researchers
0 - 4 years (FTE)
from obtaining degree that
qualified them to embark
on a doctorate
Experienced researchers
i) in possession of a PhD
or
i) at least 4 years
experience (FTE)
FP7 – People – Marie Curie
Transnational Mobility
Requirements
• Must not have been resident in host country for more
that 12 months in the last 3 years immediately before
reference date [time of appointment for ITNs, and
IAPP, application deadline for all other actions]
• Cannot be a national of host country unless
• European researcher working outside EU for 3 of
the last 4 years
• Dual nationality and have not resided in a country
of nationality for the last 5 years
• International organisation
• Return and reintegration grants
Marie Curie Initial Training Networks
UK NCP for Marie Curie
Estelle Kane
Cecilie Hansen
UK Research Office
http://www.ukro.ac.uk
FP7 – Marie Curie – Host Actions
Host Actions
• ITNs and IAPPs are Host Actions
• This means:
• Host institutions/network applies for a number of
fellows/researchers
• Host’s proposal is evaluated
• Selected host/network advertises fellowship position
and selects fellows/researchers
• Contract duration with host, usually 4 years
• Fellows’ stay depending on Action (up to 3 years)
What is an ITN?
FP7 – Marie Curie - ITN
• An ITN aims to :
• Strengthen Early Stage Training at EU level
• Attract people to scientific careers
• Improve career perspectives by development of broad
skills (including needs of industry)
What is an ITN?
FP7 – Marie Curie - ITN
• By:
• Offering a series of fellowships to ESR and EXR
through a Joint Training Programme including
complementary skills modules
• And, as an option, hold short training events open to
researchers outside the network
• ITNs are in:
• Defined scientific fields as well as inter-disciplinary, new
and emerging supra-disciplinary fields
FP7 – Marie Curie - ITN
Who can participate in an ITN?
• At least 3 different research groups from Member
or Associated States, of which 2 must be Member
or Candidate Countries
• BUT ALSO it can be single or twin sites (in
Member or Associated States) if the international
context is strong
• Third country partners are eligible, in addition to
the minimum requirements. International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) may receive
funding, whilst those in non-ICPCs may receive
funding if absolutely essential for the project
Who participates in an ITN?
FP7 – Marie Curie - ITN
• An ITN has both industrial and academic partners.
Industry must be in involved at one of three levels:
• As a full partner
• Provider of specific training or secondment
opportunities
• On the Advisory Board
• An ITN must have
• Coherent quality standards and mutual recognition of
training/ diplomas
Who can you recruit to an ITN?
FP7 – Marie Curie - ITN
• An ITN supports researchers:
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•
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With up to 5 years FTE
From all over the world
For periods of 3 - 36 months (ESRs)
For periods of 2 – 24 months (EXRs)
• As well as visiting scientists (optional)
• To carry out teaching and supervisory work
• For a period of at least 1 month
FP7 – Marie Curie - Allowances
Definition of Fellow’s
Allowances
• These are all flat rates
• Living
• Basic salary
• Varies according to research experience
• Mobility
• Relocation costs including language courses
• Varies according to family situation
• Travel
• Every 12 months travel from location of origin to fellowship location
• Career exploratory
• Fellowships at least 1 year to spend on career development
activities
Community Contribution - ITNs
FP7 – Marie Curie - Money
• Includes:
• Salary costs (living, mobility, travel and career
exploratory allowance)
• Contribution to research costs, networking and
organisation of conferences
• Contribution to management costs
• An overhead
Researcher Salaries for ITNs
FP7 – Marie Curie - Rates
Experience
Stipend Employment
(€/yr)
contract (€/yr)
16,900 33,800
Early-Stage
researchers
Experienced
26,000
researchers (< 5yrs)
Visiting Scientist (4 - 33,800
10 yrs experience)
VS (> 10 yrs
experience)
50,700
52,000
67,600
101,400
Salaries are inclusive of all compulsory deductions
Correction factor applied for cost of living (UK
Coefficient 110.2%)
Allowance rates
• Travel costs – depending on distance
FP7 – Marie Curie - Rates
€ 250 - €2500
• Mobility allowance
Without family: €500 per month
With family: €800 per month
Correction factor applied for cost of living
• Career Exploratory allowance
€ 2000 for stays of more than one year
• Training / research costs of eligible
researchers (ITNs only)
• Lab-based research: € 600 per month
• Non-lab-based research: €300 per month
FP7 – Marie Curie - Rates
Benefits for the institution - ITN
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Research Training
€600 (ITN) per month
Organisation of international conferences etc
€300 per researcher per day for those outside ITN
Management Activities
maximum 7% (ITN) of the total EC contribution
Contribution to overheads
10% of direct costs except for subcontractors
Other types of eligible expenses
N/A
Marie Curie Industry Academia Pathways
and Partnerships
UK NCP for Marie Curie
Estelle Kane
Cecilie Hansen
UK Research Office
http://www.ukro.ac.uk
FP7 – Marie Curie - IAPP
What is an Industry–Academia
Pathways and Partnership?
• It is a two-way partnership with at least one
commercial enterprise and one academic
organisation in two different Member or
Associated Countries
• An IAPP aims to increase industry-academia
co-operation by:
• Supporting the creation, development, reinforcement
and execution of strategic partnerships
• Creating diverse career possibilities and experience for
researchers
• Knowledge sharing/cultural exchange, especially SMEs
• Aiming for longer term co-operation between both
sectors
FP7 – Marie Curie - IAPP
What can you do with an IAPP?
• Recruit experienced researchers for between 2
months and 2 years
• Staff exchange – early stage or experienced
researchers (and possibly technical staff and research
managers!) for between 2 months and 2 years
• Organise common workshops/conferences
• Inter-sectoral mobility possible, within framework of
whole project, in same country up to a maximum of
30% of total researcher months
• For SMEs, a contribution towards small equipment
costs (up to 10% of project total)
FP7 – Marie Curie - IAPP
Activities - Industry–Academia
Pathways and Partnerships
Member/
Associated
State 1
Host 1
Industry
/Academia
Member/
Associated
State 2








NEW RECRUITS
 
Host 2
Academia/
Industry
Community Contribution
FP7 – Marie Curie - Money
• Includes:
• Salary costs (living, mobility, travel and career
exploratory allowance)
• Contribution to research costs, networking and
organisation of conferences
• Contribution to management costs
• Other eligible costs possible [for SMEs only in IAPPs]
• An overhead
Researcher Salaries for IAPPs
FP7 – Marie Curie - Rates
Experience
Early-Stage
researchers
Experienced
researchers (4 – 10
yrs)
ER (> 10 yrs
experience)
Stipend Employment
(€/yr)
contract (€/yr)
16,900 33,800
26,000
52,000
38,000
78,000
Salaries are inclusive of all compulsory deductions
Correction factor applied for cost of living (UK
Coefficient 110.2%)
Allowance rates - IAPP
• Travel costs – depending on distance
FP7 – Marie Curie - Rates
€ 250 - €2500
• Mobility allowance
Without family: €500 per month
With family: €800 per month
Correction factor applied for cost of living
• Career Exploratory allowance
€ 2000 for stays of more than one year
• Training / research costs of eligible
researchers (ITNs only)
• N/A
FP7 – Marie Curie - Rates
Benefits for the institution - IAPP
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Research Training
€800 (IAPP) per month
Organisation of international conferences etc
€300 per researcher per day for those outside IAPP
Management Activities
maximum 3% (IAPP) of the total EC contribution
Contribution to overheads
10% of direct costs except for subcontractors
Other types of eligible expenses
For SMEs only, up to 10% of total community
contribution (IAPP only)
How to apply for a Marie Curie Action
UK NCP for Marie Curie
Estelle Kane
Cecilie Hansen
UK Research Office
http://www.ukro.ac.uk
FP7 – Marie Curie – How to apply
Proposal Submission
• All submission is online
Contact the EC if there are compelling reasons for why you are
unable to submit online
• Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPPS)
• should be available at least a month before the deadline
• In the meantime, use the templates in the Guide for Applicants
• Two-stage submission for ITNs
• Stage 1: 7 May [address 2 criteria]
• Stage 2: 25 September [full proposal]
• One-stage submission for IAPPs
• Deadline likely to be 31 May
!! MEET THE DEADLINE !!
FP7 – Marie Curie – How to apply
Process Overview
Call
One/two stage
e-submission
Feedback
(ESR)
Commission
Ranking
Eligibility
Check
Panel
Review
Individual
Evaluation
Consensus
Negotiation of
Proposals
FP7 – Marie Curie – How to apply
Who evaluates?
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•
•
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Selected from a wide pool from a database
Minimum 3 evaluators per project
Selected per call
Replace about ¼ in any given area annually
Sign confidentiality and conflict of interest
declarations
Names published after evaluation (though not a
call or proposal level)
Target at least 40% female
Mix of geographical location and background
To register: https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7
FP7 – Marie Curie – How to apply
Key documents
Call Fiche
Focus
“People” Work Programme
Guide for Applicants
EPSS Guide
Rules on Submission and Evaluation,
Guide for Evaluators
Model grant agreement
Financial, negotiation, reporting and
IPR guidelines
FP7, “People” Specific Programme Text
Other policy documents e.g. Mobility
Strategy, “Charter and Code”
Preparation &
submission
Background
FP7 – Marie Curie – How to apply
Proposal Submission Forms
Part A
Set of forms on administrative information
about the proposal and the proposers (preprepared form), and general budget
information (e.g. number of researchers)
Part B
Free-text description of the research project;
Series of headings and explanatory notes
based on the evaluations criteria;
Limits on font size, size of PDF file
FP7 – Marie Curie – How to apply
Who submits?
• Technically co-ordinator manages the
proposal application by
• Obtaining a user-name and password
• Co-ordinating completion of A Forms for each
participant
• Co-ordinating drafting of Part B
• Pressing the SUBMIT button!
• Prepare application on-line before deadline
date
Tips on writing your MCA proposals
UK NCP for Marie Curie
Estelle Kane
Cecilie Hansen
UK Research Office
http://www.ukro.ac.uk
FP7 – Marie Curie – Your Proposal
Your project is mainly defined in ….
…PART B of the proposal forms
• PART B addresses the evaluation criteria
• …which vary according to MCA
• …and have different weightings and thresholds
• General structure of Part B for ITNs and IAPPs
is:
•
•
•
•
•
Cover Page, Table of Contents
S & T Quality
Training/Transfer of Knowledge
Implementation
Impact
Marie Curie – What’s required
What does the Commission want to
see?
A project that
matches “their”
objectives
FP7 – Marie Curie – Your Proposal
ITNs
• Remember ITNs is two-stage submission
• Stage 1:
• S & T Quality
• Training/Transfer of Knowledge
• Stage 2:
•
•
•
•
S & T Quality
Training/Transfer of Knowledge
Implementation
Impact
FP7 – Marie Curie – Your Proposal
Planning your proposal writing
In planning, have an understanding of:
1. Overall objective of an ITN
2. All 4 criterion: science, training, implementation and
impact
3. Financial issues
4. Role of participants
FP7 – Marie Curie – ITNs
Weightings and thresholds for
ITNs
Weighting
Threshold
Scientific quality
of the project
Stage 1: 50%
Stage 2: 30%
3
Training and/or
TOK activities
Stage 1: 50%
Stage 2: 30%
4
Implementation
Stage 2: 20%
3
Impact
Stage 2: 20%
n/a
Overall threshold of 70% applies
FP7 - Marie Curie – ITN criteria
S & T Quality criteria
• S&T objectives of the research programme,
including in terms of inter/multi-disciplinary,
intersectoral and/ or newly emerging supradisciplinary fields
• Scientific quality of the research programme
• Appropriateness of research methodology
• Originality and innovative aspect of the
research programme
• Knowledge of the state-of-the-art
FP7 - Marie Curie – ITN criteria
S & T Quality tips
• Science is well specified and relevant
• Cutting edge research – setting it apart from
the competition and clear
• Each specific aim is well supported
• Innovative element is clear
• Clear potential of the research
• Size of network
• References
• Unclear research methodologies
FP7 - Marie Curie – ITN criteria
Training criteria
• Quality of the training programme;
• Consistency with the research programme
• Complementary skills offered: Management,
Communication, IPR, Ethics, Grant writing,
Commercial exploitation of results, Research Policy,
entrepreneurship, etc. .
• Importance and timeliness of the training
needs (e.g. multidisciplinary, intersectoral ,
and newly emerging supra-disciplinary fields)
FP7 - Marie Curie – ITN criteria
Training criteria
• a) For multi-site proposals: Adequate
combination of local specialist training with
network-wide training activities
• b) For mono-site proposals: Adequate
exploitation of the international network of
the participants for the training programme
• Appropriateness of the size of the requested
training programme with respect to the
capacity of the host
FP7 - Marie Curie – ITN criteria
Quality of training - tips
• Impact of training is clear, including for both short and
long term fellowships
• Training programme is clear and well described
• Profile of researchers well described
• Several methods of training
• Detailed and exhaustive (credible activities)
• Detail on collaborations between ESR and ER
• Flexible, adaptable and well monitored
• Balance of training across partners
• Conferences and training courses part of training
package
FP7 - Marie Curie – ITN criteria
Quality of training - tips
• Training in research methods and
techniques
• Personal Development Plan
• Complementary skills training – ethics,
research management
• Transferable skills training – cf Roberts
• Graduate School Provision – including
RC courses
• Conferences, seminars, public fora etc
•Any other suggestions?
FP7 – Marie Curie – IAPP
Weightings and thresholds for
IAPPs
Weighting
Threshold
Scientific quality
of the project
25%
3
Training and/or
TOK activities
20%
3
Implementation
25%
3
Impact
30%
n/a
Overall threshold of 70% applies
FP7 - Marie Curie – IAPP criteria
S & T Quality
• S&T objectives of the research programme,
including in terms of intersectoral issues
• Scientific quality of the research programme
• Scientific quality of the joint collaborative
research programme
• Appropriateness of the research methodology
• Originality and innovative aspect of the
research programme. Knowledge of the stateof-the-art
FP7 - Marie Curie – IAPP criteria
Training
• Quality of the transfer of knowledge programme
• Consistency with the research programme.
• Importance of the transfer of knowledge in terms
of intersectorality
• Adequacy of the role of researchers exchanged
and recruited from outside the partnership with
respect to the transfer of knowledge programme.
FP7 - Marie Curie – IAPP criteria
Implementation
• Capacities (expertise / human resources/ facilities
/infrastructures) to achieve the research and exchange of
know-how and experience
• Complementarities between the partners and its relevance
in the research project
• Appropriateness of the plans for the overall management
of the training programme (demarcation of responsibilities,
rules for decision making, etc.)
• Clarity of the recruitment strategy (including time table),
based on competitive international recruitment and
incorporating an equal opportunity policy. Coherence of
the conditions of recruitment and employment with the
principles of the "Code of Conduct for the recruitment of
researchers"
FP7 - Marie Curie – IAPP criteria
Implementation
• Clarity in the lay out of IPR issues linked to this
collaboration
• Adequate exploitation of complementarities and synergies
among partners in terms of transfer of knowledge
• Appropriateness of the size of the requested training
programme with respect to the capacity of the host
• How essential is non-ICPC Third Country participation, if
any, to the objectives of the research training programme
• Relevance of the proposed partnership to the area of
collaboration
FP7 - Marie Curie – IAPP criteria
Implementation - tips
• The match of the targeted researchers’ profile
to the knowledge transfer is clear
• Recruitment processes and coordination
between partners are well specified
• Mention adherence to principles of Code of
Conduct of the Recruitment of Researchers
• Detailed management processes and plan
Clear that an experienced team is in place for
managing project
FP7 - Marie Curie – IAPP criteria
Implementation - tips
• High level commitment from the host
institutes and its collaborating partners.
• The practical arrangements for the
implementation of the joint research
programme and the management structure are
described, including the sharing of intellectual
property rights.
• The host provides accommodation, and
visiting positions will be properly advertised
FP7 - Marie Curie – IAPP criteria
Impact
• Provision to develop new intersectoral and lasting
collaboration
• Strategy for the dissemination and facilitation of
sharing of knowledge and culture between the
participants and external researchers (including
international conferences, workshops, training
events).
• Extent to which SMEs contribute to the project.
• In case of SMEs participation: Adequacy of the
available infrastructures for the performance of
the project. In case extra equipment is requested,
necessity and justification in the context of the
partnership.
FP7 - Marie Curie – IAPP criteria
Impact - tips
• Long term and stable integration of the
partnership beyond the IAPP contract
• Mutual balance in expertise
• Well balanced between different R & D
activities
MCA - Deadlines
FP7 – People – Marie Curie
Initial Training Networks (ITN)
7 May 2007
two stage application
Intra- European Fellowships (IEF) Call expected 28 February with a
closing date of 14 August 2007
Incoming International
Fellowships (IIF)
Outgoing International
Fellowships (OIF)
European Reintegration Grants
(ERG)
International Reintegration
Grants (IRG)
25 April & 17 October 2007
Industry-Academia Partnerships
& Pathways (IAPP)
Call expected 28 February with a
closing date of 31 May 2007
FP7 – Marie Curie
Other Opportunities through MCAs
• Support your
• recruitment strategy;
• research training strategy;
• knowledge transfer strategy;
• career development strategy;
• European or International collaboration strategy
• By
• Supporting applications for short or medium term
secondments on FP6 (and FP7) host actions such as
Research Training Networks, Host Fellowships for Early
Stage Researcher Training and Transfer of Knowledge
Actions
• Supporting applications for post-doctoral individual
fellowships (more later this afternoon)
Links
FP7 – People – Marie Curie
• UK National Contact Point for Marie Curie
• http://www.ukro.ac.uk/mariecurie
• CORDIS
• http://cordis.europa.eu/mariecurie-actions/
• The Charter and the Code
• http://europa.eu.int/eracareers/europeancharter/
• UK HE Sector analysis:
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/gapanalysis.htm
• European Researchers’ Mobility Portal
• http://ec.europa.eu/eracareers/index_en.cfm
• Marie Curie Vacancies
• http://mc-opportunities.cordis.lu/
• Queries
• [email protected]