This call invites proposals for collaborative research projects under the India-European Union Cooperation, specifically enhancing Research and Innovation Capabilities. CSIR announces a co-funding partnership within the EU Framework Programme "Horizon Europe - Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges".

Areas of Cooperation

This exchange program is open to all research areas of CSIR Institutes. The EU side focuses on areas such as Chemistry (CHE), Social Sciences and Humanities (SOC), Economic Sciences (ECO), Information Science and Engineering (ENG), Environment and Geosciences (ENV), Life Sciences (LIF), Mathematics (MAT), and Physics (PHY).

The program aims to foster collaboration between CSIR institutions in India and academic or research institutions/SMEs in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. It supports short-term international and inter-sectoral exchanges to create sustainable collaborative projects.

CSIR provides full financial support for international visits of up to 10 CSIR permanent staff for participating in selected MSCA-Staff Exchanges projects. It also encourages scientists/technical staff from EU Member States and associated countries to visit CSIR institutes.

Eligibility Criteria

For MSCA-SE proposals, a consortium must consist of at least three legal entities independent of each other, established in three different countries. At least two of these countries must be EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

For CSIR co-funding, a joint application must include at least one CSIR institute/staff from India and two entities from two different EU Member States and/or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Researcher Eligibility:

• CSIR: Must be a permanent employee (scientific/technical staff) of CSIR. Early career investigators are encouraged to participate.

• Horizon Europe: Staff members can be researchers at any career stage (including PhD candidates) as well as administrative, technical, or managerial staff.

Duration and Funding Details

Project Duration: MSCA-SE projects can last for up to four (4) years. CSIR will fund successful permanent CSIR employees for visits to European consortium partners, with each visit lasting up to 45 days per calendar year. A maximum of three (3) visits per institute for the whole project duration will be considered.

CSIR institutes can host European consortium staff for stays up to 60 days per entity per calendar year. The entire expenditure on the visit abroad of CSIR personnel will be borne by CSIR, while the entire expenditure of the foreign national/EU applicant will be borne by the EU.

CSIR Funding Limit: CSIR will annually provide financial support for international visits of up to 10 CSIR permanent staff, selected under the MSCA-SE 2025 call. Eligible costs include travel costs (approximately INR 200,000/-) and local expenses as per CSIR norms.

Application Process

CSIR and European participants must jointly formulate a proposal using the template. CSIR candidates are required to fill in details available at Annexure 1 and submit at CSIR’s International Cooperation Management System (ICMS) along with all necessary enclosures.

Joint Proposals must be submitted electronically using the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal and the CSIR Portal. On the Horizon Europe portal, CSIR applicants should use the CSIR Participant Identification Code (PIC): 999569675.

The online submission to the CSIR ICMS portal must be completed before 17 October 2025, 17:00:00 Indian time. Proposals will not be accepted by post (hard copy) or email.

Evaluation and Timeline

Proposals will be evaluated independently by respective funding agencies using their own procedures. The EC will evaluate proposals according to Horizon Europe criteria, assessing "Excellence" (50%), "Impact" (30%), and "Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation" (20%).

After the EC evaluation, CSIR will evaluate proposals shortlisted by the EC based on scientific relevance, methodology, applicant qualifications, added value of staff exchanges, and contribution to societal challenges. CSIR reserves the right to fund CSIR staff in proposals selected by the EC.

Key Dates:

• Launch of the call: 27 March 2025 (EU) and 1 April 2025 (IN)

• Horizon Europe Deadline: 08 October 2025

• CSIR Deadline: 17 October 2025

Notification of applicants will occur in March 2026 (European Commission) and April 2026 (CSIR). Grant agreement signature for successful projects is expected in June 2026, with projects starting in July 2026.