Open Research Pathways for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellows

Action Pathfinders is an open framework that helps researchers design independent MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposals within frontier research pathways. Applicants can orient their ideas within established research environments, for example by aligning in a complementary way with EU-funded projects or university strategic initiatives, while remaining fully independent.

Why This Matters

Under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships, proposals must demonstrate:

Scientific excellence
A strong training environment
Credible impact
Long-term career development

Many researchers struggle not with ideas, but with positioning.

Impact in frontier research domains requires:

Ecosystem awareness
Industrial or societal relevance
Strategic European alignment
Clear transition or application pathways

Action Pathfinders introduces structured research pathways that help applicants to navigate frontier research areas without being confined to a single direction. A pathway allows flexibility. You can adjust direction as your research evolves.

Thematic Research Pathways

Initial pathways include:

Space Systems & Enabling Technologies

Research contributing to space systems and their enabling technologies, including energy conversion, machine learning, life cycle assessment, materials reliability, digital transition, and advanced technological solutions for space applications.

This pathway supports research that strengthens Europe’s capabilities in space-related systems, performance optimisation, sustainability, and long-term operational resilience.

Advanced Materials for Sustainable Technologies

Research focused on materials-driven solutions for energy transition, including semiconductor systems, hydrogen technologies, circularity strategies, and industrial value chains aligned with sustainability objectives.

This pathway supports research that connects fundamental materials science with scalable technological applications and long-term industrial transformation.

Innovation Gaps & DeepTech Ecosystems

Research addressing systemic challenges in the development, scaling, and implementation of deep technology innovations, including front-end innovation processes, ecosystem coordination, circular innovation models, startup and SME integration, industrial adoption barriers, and transition governance.

This pathway supports research that strengthens Europe’s capacity to translate scientific excellence, startup dynamism, and SME innovation into sustainable industrial and societal impact.

Additional pathways will emerge based on community interest and engagement with research environments.

Benefits for MSCA Applicants

Action Pathfinders helps you:

Identify frontier research pathways anchored in real European research environments
Strengthen your Impact section through ecosystem and transition awareness
Position your proposal within broader European priorities
Demonstrate complementarity rather than duplication
Build a coherent long-term career development

You remain fully independent.
You select your host institution.
You define your scientific objectives.

The framework supports navigation, your idea is still your ownership.

Benefits for Research Environments

For research environments funded under Horizon Europe, or universities with defined strategic areas, Action Pathfinders offers:

Increased visibility of strategic research directions
Attraction of complementary independent MSCA proposals
Broader ecosystem engagement
Extended knowledge-transfer narrative
Reinforcement of long-term capacity building

There is:

No administrative burden
No formal commitment
No supervisory obligation

Pathways reflect publicly identified strategic directions only.

How It Works

Step 1 — Join an Action Pathfinders Forum

The entry point is an open Action Pathfinders Forum hosted via MSCA Sweden for participants to explore:

How to position their research within a thematic pathway
How to align independently with frontier European research environments
How to strengthen the Impact and career development logic
How to demonstrate complementarity rather than duplication

Step 2 — Develop an Independent Concept

Participants may prepare a short concept outline describing:

Their scientific idea
The selected research pathway
The intended complementarity or positioning

This remains entirely the applicant’s independent work.

Step 3 — Optional Pathway Dialogue

If relevant, the concept may be shared with a relevant research environment (such as an EU-funded project or university strategic initiative) to explore potential complementarity.

For research environments there is:

No obligation
No endorsement implied
No commitment required
No administrative burden for the research environment

The applicant remains responsible for:

Identifying a formal host institution
Preparing and submitting the MSCA proposal

MSCA Sweden