2021 Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (HE-MSCA-PF-2021)

[horizon]

Correct me if I'm wrong. But, doesn't the budget exclude fellowships in the UK while the total number of applicants (7500) includes those planning to conduct research in the UK? I read a post by a forum member that the UK will fund the winners separately. Given that the UK is the single most popular host country, doesn't that explain the budget reduction for the MSCA this year?

Or maybe I completely misinterpreted everything.

I thought of you the moment I saw this message

You feel my pain true friend

[horizon]

But the number of applicants went down from last year isnt it. Its in 7500 or something for the European fellowship. I think its 30% lesser than last year but so has the funding amount decreased by the same margin

Yes indeed, the number of applicants decreased sharply... But I don't think this is due to the 8 years cutoff, 30% is a large number to be only applicants with more than 8 years after the phd. I remember I saw some statistics showing that the majority of applications are from people with a few years after phd... But I can't remember exactly where I saw that, so I may be wrong.

ERC grants also had much less budget in the first year of Horizon Europe, but it will be increased in the following years, so I hope they will also increase the msca budget and that applications remains fewer as in this call

Correct me if I'm wrong. But, doesn't the budget exclude fellowships in the UK while the total number of applicants (7500) includes those planning to conduct research in the UK? I read a post by a forum member that the UK will fund the winners separately. Given that the UK is the single most popular host country, doesn't that explain the budget reduction for the MSCA this year?

Or maybe I completely misinterpreted everything.

[MSCCCCCC]

Yes indeed, the number of applicants decreased sharply... But I don't think this is due to the 8 years cutoff, 30% is a large number to be only applicants with more than 8 years after the phd. I remember I saw some statistics showing that the majority of applications are from people with a few years after phd... But I can't remember exactly where I saw that, so I may be wrong.

ERC grants also had much less budget in the first year of Horizon Europe, but it will be increased in the following years, so I hope they will also increase the msca budget and that applications remains fewer as in this call

Correct me if I'm wrong. But, doesn't the budget exclude fellowships in the UK while the total number of applicants (7500) includes those planning to conduct research in the UK? I read a post by a forum member that the UK will fund the winners separately. Given that the UK is the single most popular host country, doesn't that explain the budget reduction for the MSCA this year?

Or maybe I completely misinterpreted everything.

UK is still an associated country, so I think the overall budget includes grants to the UK.
To my understanding, each associated country pays some operational costs to the EU, which then pays the grants.

Directly from the official EU site …
As the first funding calls under Horizon Europe are launched, the new Q&A-style document confirms that UK applicants are already eligible to apply. The United Kingdom will therefore have the same rights and obligations, including financial, as other Horizon Europe associated countries.

This means that UK researchers and entities including universities, research centres, innovative businesses and industry, will have full rights to participate in the first calls for proposals under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme

[michelef]

Correct me if I'm wrong. But, doesn't the budget exclude fellowships in the UK while the total number of applicants (7500) includes those planning to conduct research in the UK? I read a post by a forum member that the UK will fund the winners separately. Given that the UK is the single most popular host country, doesn't that explain the budget reduction for the MSCA this year?

Or maybe I completely misinterpreted everything.

UK is still an associated country, so I think the overall budget includes grants to the UK.
To my understanding, each associated country pays some operational costs to the EU, which then pays the grants.

Directly from the official EU site …
As the first funding calls under Horizon Europe are launched, the new Q&A-style document confirms that UK applicants are already eligible to apply. The United Kingdom will therefore have the same rights and obligations, including financial, as other Horizon Europe associated countries.

This means that UK researchers and entities including universities, research centres, innovative businesses and industry, will have full rights to participate in the first calls for proposals under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme

Indeed

[Yao]

Correct me if I'm wrong. But, doesn't the budget exclude fellowships in the UK while the total number of applicants (7500) includes those planning to conduct research in the UK? I read a post by a forum member that the UK will fund the winners separately. Given that the UK is the single most popular host country, doesn't that explain the budget reduction for the MSCA this year?

Or maybe I completely misinterpreted everything.

UK is still an associated country, so I think the overall budget includes grants to the UK.
To my understanding, each associated country pays some operational costs to the EU, which then pays the grants.

Directly from the official EU site …
As the first funding calls under Horizon Europe are launched, the new Q&A-style document confirms that UK applicants are already eligible to apply. The United Kingdom will therefore have the same rights and obligations, including financial, as other Horizon Europe associated countries.

This means that UK researchers and entities including universities, research centres, innovative businesses and industry, will have full rights to participate in the first calls for proposals under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme

although budget decreases, the applicants are also less. I have calculated that the success rate is more or less the same.
MSCA is a challenging fellowship with high reputation, so the low successrate is reasonable. I think most of us are good researchers, and we are able to contribute useful knowledge with the fellowship, but the budget is limited. So, good luck to all.

[AnotherCandidate]

Also, if you read the condition for associated countries, if an associated country has too much grants compared to its contribution for the budget, it will have to compensate with extra money.

[michelef]

Just checked again last year's messages and the first to report the EC email was at 5.38am CET

[horizon]

Just checked again last year's messages and the first to report the EC email was at 5.38am CET

it was a monday, right?

[michelef]

Just checked again last year's messages and the first to report the EC email was at 5.38am CET

it was a monday, right?

Yes, on Monday

in the 2019 call instead I saw that the first to report the email was at 1am on a Tuesday

[Abz]

looks like it will be a very long night