RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science (RAISE pilot)

What is this call about?

The call funds doctoral networks within the MSCA scheme whose candidates develop AI methods that advance their own scientific discipline. Applications are made through the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call.

What does this call fund?

Scope

This action builds on the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call. Successful RAISE Doctoral Networks and their doctoral candidates are associated with RAISE, the Resource for AI Science in Europe, join its research community and interact with other members. The scope is limited to artificial intelligence in science, and proposals should clearly say how they meet this criterion.

The AI in science criterion

• Doctoral candidates develop, or significantly take part in developing, innovative AI systems, models, tools or methods for their scientific domain.
• These must substantially innovate how scientific information is analysed and enable a contribution that advances the state of the art in the discipline of the doctoral research.
• Developing the AI tool, model or method is to be an integral, indispensable and clearly delineated part of the research work package, and scientific advances are to depend directly on the capabilities and application of the AI algorithms.
• Research results are to be achieved in the domain science discipline, going beyond a sole focus on computer-science AI development (for example publications only in AI venues) and beyond instrumental use of existing AI systems or general-purpose data processing tools.
• All doctoral candidates should receive dedicated doctoral-level training on AI in science.

How to apply and how proposals are assessed

Applicants must submit their proposal to the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call, declaring at proposal stage their interest in being considered for RAISE and showing that the proposal falls within the RAISE scope. RAISE proposals must meet all admissibility and eligibility conditions of the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call and are evaluated with the MSCA award criteria and scoring system. After the MSCA evaluation, a cross-panel list of fundable RAISE proposals is drawn up, with a requested budget as close as possible to three times the available budget, and experts assess the relevance of those proposals to the RAISE topic. The final ranking takes both the MSCA score and the relevance assessment into account.

Expected outcomes

For doctoral candidates: new research and transferable skills in applying AI in science, better employability inside and outside academia, knowledge that converts ideas into products and services, and better networking and communication. For participating organisations: better quality, relevance and sustainability of doctoral training, more cooperation between sectors and disciplines, closer integration of training and research, stronger research capacity and uptake of AI in science, greater internationalisation, and regular feedback of research results into teaching.

When is the deadline?

24 November 2026 (19 days)

24 November 2026, through the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call.