Međunarodne stipendije

1.0 Introduction

The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) is receiving proposals under the Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Scheme for Incoming Postdocs to Malta (PF2MT). The Scheme supports travel and accommodation expenses for experienced researchers  willing to submit a proposal with Maltese entity host (Beneficiary) for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship call with deadline the 13th September 2023 (MSCA-2023 -PF). The support will be in the form of a lump sum grant and it is for the participation of the researchers in the one-day MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship training that will be held on 12^th July 2023 in Malta. Researchers, from any nationality and any age, that meet the eligibility and mobility conditions, may apply through this scheme.

Eligible applicants residing in Malta will not receive a lump sum grant however they may participate in the training free of charge, following confirmation of registration. The registration will open in June 2023.

2.0 Eligibility and administrative check

In order to be considered eligible, the applicant has to to comply with the Postdoctoral Fellowship eligibility and mobility rules of the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions of the Horizon Europe programme.  It is the sole responsibility of the applicants to check and keep updated with the latest version of the MSCA Work Programme.

The researcher must be, at the date of the MSCA PF call deadline (13th September 2023), in possession of a doctoral degree and should not have more than 8 years full time research experience since the Phd has been awarded.

Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered as postdoctoral researchers and will be considered eligible to apply.

At the call deadline (13/09/2023), the postdoctoral researchers must have a maximum of 8 years fulltime equivalent experience in research, measured from the date of award of the doctoral degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. due to parental leave), will not count towards the amount of research experience. For nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to pursue their research career in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, years of experience in research in third countries will not be considered in the above maximum.

The selected beneficiary/host organisation must be a legal entity established in Malta and must employ and supervise the researcher during the action.

Only applicants with already identified supervisor from a Maltese entity host (with whom they have already established contact and agreed to work together for the MSCA PF 2023 call) will be considered eligible.

Applicants that have applied for the MSCA PF call 2022 and received a score of less than 70% will be not eligible to resubmit in the 2023 call and thus ineligible to apply for this scheme.

Applicants that have already attended the PF2MT masterclass organised in Malta in July 2022 will be not eligible to apply again.

Mobility requirements:

Mobility rule: applicants cannot apply for a fellowship in a country where they have lived or carried out their main activity for >12 months in the 3 years preceding the call deadline (13/09/2023).

Administrative check

MCST will be performing an administrative check in order to select the eligible applicants based on the following:

➢        Proposed project idea (project’s brief);

➢        Applicant’s full updated CV;

➢        Details of the host entity/beneficiary and the supervisor;

➢        Priority will be given to well-defined proposals which demonstrate increased odds of success for securing funding from the Postdoctoral Fellowship action of Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA – PF).

Applications will be processed on first come first served basis, until funds are exhausted. Applicants are invited to submit their application by latest noon (CET) on 31^st May 2023. Applicants that require a visa for Malta should apply for the PF2MT call and for the visa as earliest as possible. Applicants are to apply for VISA 45 days in advance. More information about the VISA procedure can be found here.

An application will only be considered eligible if it complies with the eligibility conditions set out in this document.

The applicants will be informed by email if they have been selected for funding within maximum 2 weeks following the submission of the application.

3.0 Financing

The support will be in the form of lump sum grant to cover travel and accommodation expenses for the participation in the training on 12^th July 2023.

Participants will receive 50% of the lump sum grant following their participation in the training while the remaining 50% will be sent following submitting application with Maltese beneficiary/Maltese entity as a host. The applicants are to forward to MCST the email received from the European Commission, which email confirms the participant’s submission. This email will include a number/identifier in order to prove that the application has been successfully sent to the EC through the Funding and Tenders portal.

The selected participants are to provide a valid bank account for the transaction and any refunds that might need to be effected will be only transacted through a bank transfer.

Selected applicants will receive the lump sum grant to cover their travel and accommodation expenses as follows:

• Participants residing in Europe, EU Member State, Horizon Europe Associated Country (AC), UK and Switzerland: Eur 800
• Participants residing in a third country (not in Europe, EU, UK, Switzerland or AC): Eur 2,000

Selected applicants will be responsible for arranging all relevant activities including travel plans, accommodation, logistics planning and insurance coverage for any participant who will be travelling.

Participants are solely responsible to arrange for a Visa and any other entry documents required to enter to Malta (for non- EU citizens). Find out more about the VISA procedure and check the requirements from here.

4.0 Important informative links

Applicants are advised to check the following links and read the relevant information and documentation:

Link to the PF call

Link to the MSCA website

Link to the MSCA work programme

Research & Innovation landscape of Malta (video)

5.0 Submission of Application Form

Scanned signed and dated application form, as well as an updated CV of the applicant, are to be submitted by email to Ova e-mail adresa je zaštićena od spambota. Potrebno je omogućiti JavaScript da je vidite. and cc Ova e-mail adresa je zaštićena od spambota. Potrebno je omogućiti JavaScript da je vidite. with “PF2MT 2023” as a subject heading by not later than noon (CET) of 31^st May 2023.

6.0 Correspondence

Successful applicants are required to attend the one-day training on 12^th July 2023 and sign the attendance sheet. Furthermore, the participants are also required to provide a copy of their boarding passes. Participants may provide their boarding passes to MCST either during the training or via email as scanned copies on the following email address: Ova e-mail adresa je zaštićena od spambota. Potrebno je omogućiti JavaScript da je vidite. and Ova e-mail adresa je zaštićena od spambota. Potrebno je omogućiti JavaScript da je vidite. .

Once the PF proposal is submitted to the European Commission, the applicants are also required to forward the confirmation email.

7.0 Further Information

For further information on the Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Scheme for Incoming Postdocs to Malta (PF2MT), kindly contact Lili Kankaya as per details below:

Lili Kankaya

Senior Executive

Framework Programme Unit

Malta Council for Science and Technology

Email: Ova e-mail adresa je zaštićena od spambota. Potrebno je omogućiti JavaScript da je vidite.  

8.0 Definitions

Europe: EU Member States (MS), including their outermost regions, the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to MS and Associated Countries (AC).

Associated Country (AC) is a third country which is party to an international agreement with the Union. More information can be found here.

Non-associated Third Countries (TC) are countries which are neither EU Member States (MS), nor associated to Horizon Europe (AC).

The Academic Sector refers to public or private higher education establishments awarding academic degrees, public or private non-profit research organisations for whom one of the main objectives is to pursue research or technological development, and international European interest organisations.

The Non-Academic Sector refers to any socio-economic actor not included in the academic sector. This includes all fields of future workplaces of researchers, from industry to business, government, civil society organisations, cultural institutions, hospitals, etc.

The Beneficiary is the legal entity that signs the Grant Agreement and has the complete responsibility for the proper implementation of the action. It contributes directly to the implementation of the research, transfer of knowledge and training activities by recruiting, supervising, hosting or training a MSCA-funded researcher.

Supported fellows must be postdoctoral researchers at the date of the call deadline, (i.e. in a possession of a doctoral degree). Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered as postdoctoral researchers and will be considered eligible to apply.

At the call deadline, supported researchers must have a maximum of 8 years fulltime equivalent experience in research, measured from the date of award of the doctoral degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. due to parental leave), will not count towards the amount of research experience. For nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to pursue their research career in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, years of experience in research in third countries will not be considered in the above maximum.

The Supervisor is the scientist appointed at the beneficiary to supervise the researcher throughout the whole duration of the action.

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