RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science (RAISE pilot)
RAISE Doctoral Networks support doctoral training integrating AI innovations in scientific research across disciplines.
This call funds doctoral networks focusing on applying AI to advance scientific research. Doctoral candidates develop innovative AI tools integral to their scientific domain. The projects enhance skills, networking, and research impact in AI-driven science.
Likely relevant for
- Academic institutions with doctoral training programs
- Research organizations in AI and scientific disciplines
- Doctoral candidates in AI applied to science
- Consortia aiming to integrate AI in scientific research
Project signals
What it funds
- Doctoral networks developing innovative AI systems, models, tools, or methodologies integral to scientific research domains
- Training doctoral candidates in AI applications that advance scientific knowledge beyond computer-science AI venues
- Integration of AI-driven research and training activities across participating organizations
- Networking and community building within the RAISE AI science research community
Expected outcomes
- Enhanced research and transferable skills in AI for doctoral candidates
- Improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia
- New knowledge enabling conversion of ideas into products and services
- Improved quality and sustainability of doctoral training programs
- Enhanced cooperation and knowledge transfer between sectors and disciplines
- Boosted research and innovation capacity and uptake of AI in science
- Increased internationalization and attractiveness of participating organizations
Who can apply / participate
- Academic institutions
- Research organizations
- Consortia eligible under MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026
- Must comply with MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 eligibility and admissibility conditions
- Eligible countries as per MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 and Horizon Europe rules
- Proposals must be submitted to MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call
- Proposals must demonstrate clear alignment with AI in science scope
- Must fulfill all MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 eligibility and admissibility criteria
- Specific consortium size and composition details must be checked in MSCA 2026 call documents
Must check before shortlisting
- Eligibility conditions of MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026
- Alignment with AI in science scope
- Compliance with MSCA evaluation criteria
Money
EUR 30 million available in 2026 for RAISE Doctoral Networks under MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call.
- Total budget for 2026 — 30000000EURBudget covers all RAISE Doctoral Networks actions including standard, joint, and industrial doctorates.
Application notes
- Single-stage submission through MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call submission system.
- Proposals must comply with MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 admissibility and eligibility conditions.
- Proposal page limits and layout as per Horizon Europe General Annexes and MSCA guidelines.
- Applicants must declare interest in RAISE consideration at proposal stage.
- Evaluation follows MSCA award criteria and scoring system.
- Final ranking considers MSCA scores and relevance to RAISE topic.
- Submit proposal to MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call.
- Declare interest in RAISE Doctoral Networks within proposal.
- Ensure proposal clearly meets AI in science scope.
- Follow MSCA evaluation and award procedures.
- Proposals must pass MSCA thresholds to be considered for RAISE.
- Final funding depends on MSCA evaluation and RAISE relevance assessment.
- Check all MSCA 2026 call documents for detailed eligibility and submission rules.
Derived from official EU Funding portal source · updated 22 Jun 2026, 17:02 UTC. Use this as a shortlisting aid; the official call text remains authoritative.
Related calls
These funding calls are closely related and may be worth considering as part of the same funding landscape.
Official source text
Fine print from the EU source record. Expand when you need the original wording.
Topic description
Expected Outcome: This action builds on the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call (HORIZON-MSCA-DN-2026). The project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: For supported doctoral candidates: New research and transferable skills and competences in the application of AI in science, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia; New knowledge allowing the conversion of ideas into products and services, where relevant; Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact. For participating organisations: Improved quality, relevance and sustainability of doctoral training programmes and supervision arrangements; Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines; Increased integration of training and research activities between participating organisations; Boosted R&I capacity and uptake of AI in science; Increased internationalisation and attractiveness; Regular feedback of research results into teaching and education at participating organisations. Scope: Successful RAISE Doctoral Networks and doctoral candidates will be associated with RAISE, the Resource for AI Science in Europe. They will become part of the RAISE research community and will interact with its other members. As such, the scope of this call is limited to AI (artificial intelligence) in science, as outlined below. Proposals should therefore clearly specify how they meet this “AI in science” criterion. Doctoral candidates are to either develop or significantly participate in the development of innovative AI systems, models, tools or methodologies for their scientific domain. These systems, models, tools or methodologies must substantially innovate the way in which scientific information is analysed and enable a scientific contribution that furthers the state of the art in the discipline of the doctoral research. The development of the AI tool, model or methodology is to be an integral and indispensable part of the research work and be clearly delineated in the research work package. The scientific advancements of the project are to be directly dependent on the capabilities and application of these AI algorithms to drive the scientific inquiry, prediction, or understanding. Proposals are to achieve research results in the domain-scientific discipline of the doctoral research through using innovative AI techniques, going beyond a unique focus on computer-scientific AI development (e.g. to result in publications only in computer-scientific AI-related venues) or the use of existing AI systems, methodologies or general-purpose computational tools for data processing/statistical analysis in an instrumental way. All doctoral candidates should receive dedicated doctoral-level training on AI in science (understood as outlined above). In order to apply for the RAISE Doctoral Networks call, applicants must submit their proposal to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2026. At proposal stage, applicants will be able to declare their interest in being considered for the RAISE Doctoral Networks and, if so, they should demonstrate that their proposal falls within the scope of the RAISE call. The proposals submitted under the RAISE Doctoral Networks must fulfil all the admissibility and eligibility conditions of the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026. The RAISE proposals will be evaluated applying the MSCA award criteria and the MSCA scoring system. At the end of the MSCA evaluation procedure, a cross-panel list of fundable RAISE proposals will be established with the highest-ranking reserve list proposals. The list would be ranked according to the MSCA evaluation scores and comprise proposals with a requested budget as close as possible to 3 times the available budget. Experts will assess the relevance of the proposals on this list to the RAISE topic. The final ranking of the RAISE proposals will be established taking into consideration the MSCA score and the assessment of the relevance of the proposal to the RAISE topic.
Conditions and documents
General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
The following additional eligibility criteria apply: The proposals submitted under the RAISE Doctoral Networks must fulfil all the admissibility and eligibility conditions of the MSCA Doctoral Networks call 2026 and pass all the thresholds for that call.
described in the MSCA part of the Work Programme.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in the MSCA part of the Work Programme.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
The following additions to the general award criteria apply:
For application of the general award criteria, including weighting and thresholds, see the specific conditions at the end of the MSCA Work Programme part.
For admissibility, eligibility criteria, procedure and legal and financial set-up of the Grant Agreement see exceptions and specific conditions for MSCA Doctoral Networks in the MSCA Work Programme part.
The expected EU contribution depends on the number of person-months requested. For the applicable unit contributions, see specific conditions for MSCA Doctoral Networks in the MSCA Work Programme part.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Specific MSCA evaluation process is described on the MSCA section of the REA website.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. See exceptions and specific conditions in the MSCA part of the Work Programme.
7. Specific conditions
described in the MSCA part of the Work Programme.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE MSCA DN)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE MSCA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Applicants to RAISE-DN must refer to the MSCA DN Guide for Applicants.
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support information
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant. Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe. Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management. Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular. National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’). Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding. IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers. Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
Raw budget overview
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