CY Cergy Paris Université, in collaboration with the University of Warwick and Monash University, through its European research foundation MUERF in Italy, has been awarded Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND funding, achieving an outstanding score of 100%.
The European Commission’s research framework Horizon Europe has announced the results of its Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral COFUND call, and CY Cergy Paris Université has been selected as a beneficiary for the 2026 call, aimed at fostering exceptional research across Europe. The EUTOPIA-SHIFT project, which stands for Shaping Higher Education and Innovation for Future Talents, builds upon the previous success of EUTOPIA-SIF (Science and Innovation Fellowships, 2021-2026). This new initiative will further reinforce the EUTOPIA Alliance’s enduring commitment to high-quality early-career research.
Commencing in February 2027 and extending over five years, EUTOPIA-SHIFT will recruit 30 postdoctoral fellows for 36-month fellowships through two competitive calls. Fellows will be hosted by three recruiting partners: 12 at CY Cergy Paris Université, including ESSEC Business School (France), 12 at the University of Warwick (United Kingdom), and 6 at Monash University European Research Foundation ETS (MUERF) in Italy, with support from Monash University in Australia. All these institutions are integral members of the EUTOPIA Alliance, providing access to state-of-the-art infrastructures, collaborative platforms, and a vibrant international research community.
This programme specifically addresses the structural precarity faced by early-career researchers by offering three-year fellowships, a reduced cohort size to enhance personalised support, and strengthened intersectoral engagement through 16 Associated Partners, drawing from both the academic and non-academic sectors. This diverse engagement fosters a holistic approach to addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities across various fields.
Fellows will have the opportunity to design grassroots research projects within four interdisciplinary Key Research Areas:
- Adaptive and Inclusive Approaches to Health and Wellbeing;
- Holistic Approaches to Climate Change: Science, Society, and Humanities;
- Resilient Economies and Democracies in the Digital Era;
- Sustainable Mobilities and Territories.
Through high-level scientific supervision, intersectoral secondments, and advanced training in transferable skills, EUTOPIA-SHIFT aims to equip researchers to secure competitive funding, stimulate innovation, and generate societal and economic impact. By reinforcing collaboration within the EUTOPIA Alliance and enhancing institutional research and innovation capacities, this programme will significantly contribute to a more integrated, resilient, and forward-looking European Research Area.
This initiative provides a unique opportunity for outstanding researchers to collaborate with leading research teams within the EUTOPIA Alliance. For further information, please contact the programme coordinator Yann Giraud, at yann.giraud@cyu.fr.
