The BILAT-UKR*AINA summer school for Ukrainian researchers and project managers was held in Kyiv on 15-18th September 2014. As a follow-up, a webinar was scheduled for 20 November, with the purpose of giving useful knowledge, practical information and tips about the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under the “Excellent Science” pillar of Horizon 2020.

MSCA provide grants at all stages of researchers’ careers, from PhD candidates to highly experienced researchers, and encourage transnational, intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility to support the career development and training of researchers – with a focus on innovation skills – in all scientific disciplines through worldwide and cross-sector mobility.
Ms Magdolna Somos, the Hungarian MSCA NCP gave a general overview about the programme, highlighting the different types of individual grants. The second speaker, Ms Karina Shakbazyan, one of the Ukrainian MSCA NCPs presented the application process. Detailed, practical information were provided by the two national contact points. Following the two presentations, Mr. András Zlinszky introduced his own experiences as a former MSCA fellow.
Finally, the Ukrainian researchers had the possibility to raise questions regarding the presentations and the MSCA programme. Including others, the main questions of the researchers were the following:

• Can we take part in MSCA in RISE programme like group of researchers in ecology panel for example?
•  What is the current status of Ukraine in H2020?

• What is the role of the host institutions?

• When submitting an ITN proposal each institution has the same responsible representative in all the proposals?

• How many per cent of co-financing is needed from each participant from Ukraine in COFUND programme?

At the end of the webinar,  the NCPs confirmed their availability in case of any further questions. Moreover, Ms Magdolna Somos recommended to visit the following for further information: http://mariecurieactions.blogspot.ch/2014/11/itn-how-should-management-and-overhead.html