September 18-19, 2025
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Presidency Conference 2025 is organized by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) with the support of the European Commission.
Lyngby, Denmark
Are European universities ready to meet the needs of early-career researchers? The 2025 MSCA Presidency Conference explores how academia can attract and retain the brightest minds — and shape the future of research in Europe.
Bringing together early career researchers, policy makers, university leaders and industry representatives the conference will foster discussions on the purpose-driven university, working culture and intersectoral mobility.
Join the discussion!
By fostering discussions on topics such as the purpose-driven university, working culture, diversity, well-being, academic talent programmes, international initiatives like CoARA, the supervisor role, and intersectional mobility, we aim to generate actionable recommendations for the future MSCA programmes on motivation and working-life of MSCA fellows.
Conference moderator is Lykke Friis, Director, Moderator.dk.
The programme is subject to change.
DTU President Anders Bjarklev.
The role of motivation and purposefulness in attracting and retaining research talent.
To be announced.
3-minute short pitches by 5 MSCA fellows and alumni. Showcasing their scientific breakthroughs.
Parallel session 1
This session will investigate how a broader view on research quality and impact may affect ECRs and may contribute to increased diversity in research. The discussion will cover how the CoARA agenda of diverse outputs, practices, and activities will impact the career paths and working-life of ECRs and how research funders and universities may contribute to the CoARA framework.
To be announced.
Parallel session 2
This session will showcase universities’ talent programmes and discuss their impact on attracting and retaining talent. How are talent programmes important for ECRs? The session will be used to share the best practices among institutions and to include ECRs recommendations for future programmes.
To be announced
Parallel session 3
This session will discuss how better career integration and intersectoral mobility between industry, academia, and public bodies can enhance ECR careers and contribute to attracting and retaining talent in research, a prerequisite for the sustainability of the research and innovation ecosystem.
To be announced.
Discussion of the recently updated MSCA Guidelines for Supervision through the eyes of an ECR and a supervisor.
3-minute short pitches by 5 MSCA fellows and alumni. Showcasing their scientific breakthroughs.
3-minute short pitches by 5 MSCA fellows and alumni. Showcasing their scientific breakthroughs.
Looking forward - recommendations for the MSCA Programme in light of conference key themes.
To be announced.
Deputy Director Annemarie Falktoft
To be announced.
Text under construction.
Through 3-minute pitches by 15 MSCA fellows and alumni, one MSCA ECR will be selected for the official Falling Walls Lab Science Summit in November 2025.
Details on how to enter the competition will follow.
Photos and descriptions of all 15 competitors will follow as soon as possible.
To be announced.
Discover how MSCA has helped shape careers and research. 10 researchers from Danish universities have been selected to share their experiences from current and former MSCA projects. In short videos they will share their motivations, research results, and impact and what MSCA has meant for their careers.
The videos will be displayed as a video exhibition during the conference.
A description of the 10 researchers and their MSCA projects will follow as soon as possible.
During the conference lunch breaks, you’ll have the opportunity to share your thoughts on various conference topics through a video recorded vox pop. This is your chance to have your voice heard and contribute to the conversation.
After the conference the video clips will be showcased as part of the conference legacy on the website. A selection of these statements may also be featured in the post-conference report and policy recommendations.
You’ll be guided by 4 video journalists, supported by DTU MediaLab.
Conference Venue 18-19 September 2025
Conference dinner 18 September 2025
University of Copenhagen, Frue Plads, 1165 København,
Get directions from Scandic Webers
