ICIQ has been selected for funding under the first “MSCA Choose Europe for Science 2025” COFUND call with a project titled MERCI – Momentum for European Research Career at ICIQ. The initiative aims to recruit four excellent postdoctoral researchers and give them the conditions they need to grow towards becoming independent group leaders at the centre or at related research centres and universities, with the possibility to remain linked to ICIQ as “Associated Researchers”.
“Choose Europe for Science” is a new pilot scheme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) that aims to make research careers in Europe more attractive and stable. In this first edition of the call, the European Commission will fund 16 projects.
With MERCI, ICIQ will pursue three main objectives:
– Attract outstanding postdoctoral researchers who will broaden ICIQ’s frontier research lines and enhance the institute’s international visibility.
– Consolidate ICIQ as a talent development platform, positioning the institute as a reference centre for training and career opportunities.
– Strengthening collaboration with associated partners from academia and private sectors.
The programme will run for 72 months and will be tightly aligned with ICIQ’s strategic research areas, such as sustainable catalysis, renewable energy and molecular medicine.
MERCI will expand and reinforce ICIQ’s existing Advanced Tenure Track Programme, one of the key measures introduced under the institute’s Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence recognition by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. By adding MSCA-COFUND support, ICIQ can offer more competitive conditions and a clearer career perspective to emerging research leaders.
Once at ICIQ, MERCI fellows will follow a well-defined career development path that combines scientific freedom with structured support:
– Close mentoring by an internationally recognised ICIQ group leader.
– Regular progress monitoring and evaluation, helping fellows plan and track their next steps.
– A personalised Career Development Plan (CDP), including research career support.
In addition, fellows will have opportunities for mobility through secondments at associated academic and private-sector partners. These stays will allow them to build broader skills, expand their networks, and explore different career options within the European Research Area.
Overall, the programme strengthens ICIQ’s role in training the next generation of scientific leaders, while contributing to regional, national and European priorities in research and innovation.
This Project has received funding from the European Union (Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101313516)
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