Marie Curie Career Integration Grants (CIG)

Overview

Many researchers currently working around the world would consider getting a stable position in a European research institution. The new Career Integration Grant scheme helps them to achieve this.

Who can apply?

CIG applicants must be experienced researchers from any country in the world, with at least 4 years’ full-time research experience or a doctoral degree. You must have been actively engaged in research, but you cannot have carried out your work in the country of your host organisation for more than twelve months over the last three years. Finally, you must not have previously benefitted from a European or an International Reintegration Grant (ERG or IRG) or from a Career Integration Grant.

What does the funding cover?

The Career Integration Grant is a flat rate contribution towards your research costs. These may, for example, contribute to the salary costs of the researcher or other staff employed for the project, travel costs, consumables, patent costs and/or publication costs. The grant will cover a period of 2 to 4 years and must be used within this period. If your grant application is successful, the European Commission will establish a grant agreement with your host organisation in Europe. The host will then provide you with an employment contract (if one does not already exist), on the basis of which it is expected to pay your salary and ensure your integration for at least the duration of the grant. Your host organisation must be a university, a research centre or an enterprise in an EU Member State or Associated Country.

Which topics can be funded?

CIG proposals are welcomed from all areas of scientific and technological research, excluding research areas covered by the EURATOM Treaty.

Who decides?

CIG proposals are selected in an open competition. Selection occurs through a transparent, independent peer review, based on excellence, using a series of pre-determined criteria.

How to apply

Funding decisions for Marie Curie Career Integration Grants (CIG) are made on the basis of proposals submitted following calls published by the Research Executive Agency (REA).

The sequence of steps is summarised in this flow chart:

1. Proposal preparation and electronic submission

For each call a dedicated call page is set up. Published calls can be found through 'Find a call' in the left navigation on this page.

To prepare and submit a proposal for a Marie Curie Career Integration Grant you will need the complete Information package which is available from the call page.

The Guide for Applicants contains the essential information to guide you through the process of preparing and submitting a proposal. Proposals are submitted electronically via the Commission's Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPSS) before a strictly-enforced deadline.

The Information package also comprises the People Work programme which provides a detailed description of the action, its objectives and scope, the eligibility criteria, the EU contribution and the evaluation criteria.

Guides for Applicants and Work programmes are revised each year, so make sure you refer to the latest version before preparing your proposal.

The Guide and the Work programme are essential reading. However, you may also wish to consult other reference and background documents, particular those relating to negotiation and the grant agreements, which are available from the 'How to manage my project' page.

2. Proposal evaluation

The REA evaluates all eligible proposals in order to identify those whose quality is sufficiently high for possible funding. The basis for this evaluation is a peer-review carried out by independent experts. The results of the evaluation will be made available on the call page.

3. Negotiation and Selection

The REA then negotiates with some or all of those applicants whose proposals have successfully passed the evaluation stage, depending on the budget available. If negotiations are successfully concluded, grant agreements providing for an EU financial contribution are established with the participants.

Application can be made at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/mariecurieactions/cig-where_en.html

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