The MSCA programme offers career development opportunities for researchers at different career stages. Over the last few years, there was an increase of the interest in the participation of the non- academic sector in the different MSCA action and, sub-actions offering opportunities for researchers of all career stages to develop their careers in the business sector, and/or to collaborate with public or non- profit organisations. As an example of this increase serves the case of the participation of the non- academic sector in proposals submitted to the RISE action, it has increased by 152.4% between 2014 and 2020.
This report is the analysis of the non-academic sector participation in MSCA during the Horizon 2020 Programme made for 6 different areas , with the aim to providing an added value to National Contact Points to understand the trends, interests of the different entities that are part of this heterogenous sector. The importance of this sector is at the heart of the MSCA programme offering opportunities of internationalisation, intersectoral cooperation and new employment opportunities. The deliverable will include, in an updated version, guidelines with a set of recommendations on how to approach the non-academic sector in MSCA programme.
The non-academic sector comprises different entities, to analyses the different trends, patterns, geographical distribution and results in their participation, a detailed classification into 9 categories has been established as the following:
• SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises, Start-ups and Spin Offs);
• Corporations (Large Companies and Mid-Caps);
• Governments (Governmental offices and departments at national, regional and local level);
• Hospitals (including Health Departments and Health Ministries);
• International Organizations;
• Museums;
• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs);
• Other (Including Foundations, Associations, etc);
• Research Centres and Universities (acting as private legal figure).
MSCA-NET is the project of the international network of MSCA National Contact Points (NCPs) financed under Horizon Europe.Its objectives are: to improve, professionalise and harmonise services of MSCA NCPs and to simplify access of potential applicants to the Horizon Europe MSCA calls.