1. Planning your
international
career
Iddo Bante
2 April 2013, COMMIT meeting

2. Required skills trend
Generic
Low
science
High
science
Special application
Innovation
in ICT
Innovation
with ICT
Enterpreneurship
Inter-disciplinary
Inter-sectoral
International

3. Horizon 2020
Generic
Low
science
High
science
Special application
ERC
EIT
Enterpreneurship
Inter-disciplinary
Inter-sectoral
International
Marie Curi

4. Your international research career
BSc MSc PhD
Graduate School
EIT ICT Labs
Joint programs Master School Mobility
Entrepreneurship Doctoral School
Postdoc
Marie Curie
ERC
Training through research: triple i
Nurturing excellence: individual fellowships
Fostering new skils
Starting grant
Advanced grant
Proof of concept

5. Thank you for your attention!
Find out more:
www.ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020
www.ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions
erc.europa.eu

7. Background info
The changing workforce and technology needs of a global knowledge economy are
changing the nature of engineering practice, demanding far broader skills than
simply the mastery of scientific and technological disciplines. The growing
awareness of the importance of technological innovation to economic
competitiveness and societal challenges is demanding for:
(1) Strong research or engineering excellence in the study area.
(2) Understanding the basics of innovation processes at the individual and
organizational levels.
(3) Open attitude for activity renewal and adaptation to rapid technology and socio-
economic changes in the ICT-sector.
(4) Entrepreneurship in adapting one’s own activity or organization to the changing
global world.
(5) Willingness and skills for intellectual mobility and physical moving between
different actors and stakeholders such as industries, business, public sector, venture
creators and investors, and decision makers.
(6) Engineers working collaboratively in international networks.

8. ERC – European research Council
ERC starting grants:
- Top researchers with 2-7 years
of experience after PhD
- Up to 2 mln euro, up to 5 yr
ERC advanced grants
- Excellent established researchers
with track-record identifying them
as research leaders
- Up to 3.5 mln euro, up to 5 yr
ERC consolidator grants:
- Top researchers with 7-12 years
of experience after their PhD
- Up to 2.75 mln euro, up to 5 yr
ERC synergy grants:
- Pilot scheme for small groups
of excellent researchers
ERC proof of concept:
- For ERC grant holders only
- Bridging gap between research and market
- Up to 150 keuro

9. MSCA in H2020
1. Fostering new skills through
excellent initial training of researchers
2. Nurturing excellence through
cross-border and cross-sector mobility
3. Stimulating innovation through
cross-fertilisation of knowledge
4. Increasing structural impact by
co-funding the activities
5. Specific support and policy action
Goal: To ensure optimum development and dynamic use of Europe’s
intellectual capital in order to generate new skills and innovation
MSCA = Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

10. MSCA in H2020 - Objectives
 MSCA encourage new creative types of research training,
including doctoral training
 MSCA offer internationally competitive research career
for best researchers
 MSCA provide researchers with skills and
competences needed for future challenges
 MSCA foster mobility and research cooperation
across countries, sectors and disciplines
 MSCA have a pronounced structuring effect on ERA

11. MSCA – Excellence in research training
Excellent training
environment:
- Top research groups
- Triple “i” dimension
Enhanced through: Courses / Workshops / Conferences /
Secondments / International Networking / Outreach activities
Best employment and
working conditions
- Professionalization from the
early stage of career
- Full employment contracts
Supervision & follow-up:
- Dedicated supervisor
- Careers development plan
and monitoring
Transferable skills:
- Entrepreneurship and
business skills
- IPR and patenting rights
- Project management
- And others…

12. MSCA - Activities
Action 1
Early-stage
researchers
Action 2
Experienced
researchers
Action 3
Exchange
of staff
Action 4
COFUND
Doctoral and initial training of researchers
proposed by international networks of
organisations from public and private sectors
Individual fellowships for most promising
experienced researchers
to develop their skills through international or
inter-sector mobility
International and inter-sector cooperation through the
exchange of research and innovation staff
Co-funding of regional, national and international
programmes covering actions 1, 2 and 3

13. Fostering new skills (MSCA Action 1)
 Training through research
 Transferable skills training modules
 Exposure to both public and private sectors
 Addressing triple ‘i’ dimensions:
International
Interdisciplinary
Intersectoral
 Aiming to develop research competences combining scientific
excellence with business innovation
 Equip PhD holders with skills matching public and private sector needs
 Joint Research Training Programme

14. Nurturing excellence(MSCA Action 2)
 Individual Fellowships
to promote international and inter-sector mobility
 Aiming to support attractive career opportunities
and facilitate career moves, also between public
and private sectors
 Enhance competences and creative potential of
best researchers, European and non-European
willing to work in the EU
 In-built possibility of outgoing phase in TC or in
private sector