NAWA-MSCA Contact Point South-Eastern Poland

NAWA-MSCA Contact Point South-Eastern Poland

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On 1 July 2025, Cracow University of Technology launched the project entitled “NAWA-MSCA Contact Point in the South-Eastern Poland Macroregion”, financed by the European Union, specifically from the European Funds for Social Development 2021–2027 (FERS), under the NAWA project “Support for higher education and science institutions in services for foreign nationals and Polish citizens going abroad”, project no. FERS.01.05.IP.08-0003/24.
FERS projects: https://nawa.gov.pl/nawa/projekty-fers.

The overarching objective of the “NAWA-MSCA Contact Point” project is to:

1. develop the capacity of beneficiaries to support Polish institutions and individual researchers interested in participating in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme under Horizon Europe;

2. develop the capacity of beneficiaries to support Polish institutions and individual researchers implementing projects under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme in the current and previous EU Framework Programmes, namely Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe;

3. develop cooperation between beneficiaries and other stakeholders and support networks relevant to the participation of Polish institutions and individual researchers in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme under Horizon Europe, including at international level.

Another objective of the project is to establish an information, consultation and training contact point in the South-Eastern Poland macroregion. Through its activities, the Contact Point will support applicants and beneficiaries of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe in the years 2025–2027, operating as part of the nationwide NAWA-MSCA Network.

The project will develop sustainable activities that will contribute to more active participation of Polish institutions, especially from the science sector, in projects supporting international mobility under the European Commission Framework Programmes. This, in turn, will contribute to increasing the level of internationalisation of institutions.

The project plans to implement the following tasks:

organising, launching and running a service point for MSCA stakeholders;
improving the competences needed to support MSCA stakeholders;
developing skills and expanding the knowledge of MSCA Contact Point staff;
participating in external conferences and training sessions;
building cooperation with other support networks;
carrying out information, promotional and training activities organised by the Contact Point in cooperation with the NAWA-MSCA Network;
reaching institutions implementing MSCA projects in the macroregion with relevant information;
creating a database of MSCA projects implemented in the macroregion;
organising an international conference at the end of the project;
relaunching the cyclical training programme for young researchers entitled “Project: Researcher”;
and other activities.

The target group of the “NAWA-MSCA Contact Point” project includes both individuals and institutions, in particular: R&D sector employees; students; R&D sector institutions; private sector employees.

The project outcomes contribute to the objectives of the NAWA Development Strategy 2024–2030 and the FERS project “Support for higher education and science institutions in services for foreign nationals and Polish citizens going abroad.”

Long-term outcomes:

the operation of the MSCA Contact Point until 2028 and ensuring project sustainability for a period of two years. A further extension of the project’s effects may include maintaining the MSCA Contact Point in the next financial perspective, which would make it possible to use the potential developed by the Contact Point staff;
enriching the labour market with a group of experienced researchers with high competences, international experience and professional contacts abroad. This will increase their chances of obtaining prestigious grants, such as ERC grants, and contribute to the growth of research innovation and the overall importance of Polish science internationally;
increasing the level of internationalisation of public and private sector entities in the macroregion through exchanges of researchers and technical staff between sectors, as well as the employment of outstanding specialists from abroad;
raising awareness among stakeholders who, as host institutions, may receive researchers and technical staff through staff exchanges, about the tangible benefits of participating in MSCA projects.

Medium-term outcomes

increased awareness among researchers of the importance of mobility and MSCA projects;
presenting good practices of MSCA fellows to researchers;
improving the scientific quality of proposals submitted under MSCA calls;
establishing contacts within various MSCA networks;
systematic training and verification of knowledge by beneficiaries;
ensuring close cooperation with the MSCA National Contact Point at NAWA and other institutions;
comprehensive support for institutions implementing MSCA projects.

Recruitment of project participants

Recruitment of project participants is carried out on the basis of the Regulations. The documents are available for download below.

The project manager of “NAWA-MSCA Contact Point in the South-Eastern Poland Macroregion” is Magdalena Wójtowicz.

The Project Office is located at Cracow University of Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, Kraków, “GALERIA GIL” building, 2nd floor, room 209.

The schedule of support activities for project participants is available for download at the bottom of the page.