Marie Curie Fellows Association

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The Marie Curie Fellows Association (MCFA) is the association of scientists who have been awarded a Marie Curie fellowship or other research training grants from the European Commission within the Marie Curie Actions programme (FP6), the People programme (FP7), or the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme (Horizon 2020). A Marie (Skłodowska) Curie Fellowship is a grant under one of the European RTD framework programmes to stimulate the training and mobility of researchers within the European Union.

European Commission executive institution of the European Union

The European Commission (EC) is an institution of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU. Commissioners swear an oath at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg City, pledging to respect the treaties and to be completely independent in carrying out their duties during their mandate. Unlike in the Council of the European Union, where members are directly and indirectly elected, and the European Parliament, where members are directly elected, the Commissioners are proposed by the Council of the European Union, on the basis of suggestions made by the national governments, and then appointed by the European Council after the approval of the European Parliament.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are a set of major mobility research grants created by the European Union/European Commission to support research in the European Research Area (ERA). Established in 1996 as Marie Curie Actions and known since 2014 as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the fellowship programme aims to foster the career development and further training of researchers at all career stages. These grants promote interdisciplinary research and international collaborations, supporting scientists from not only within Europe but also across the globe. MSCA fellowships are among Europe’s most competitive and prestigious awards, aimed at supporting the best and most promising scientists.

The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, also called Framework Programmes or abbreviated FP1 to FP7 with "FP8" being named "Horizon 2020", are funding programmes created by the European Union/European Commission to support and foster research in the European Research Area (ERA). The specific objectives and actions vary between funding periods. In FP6 and FP7 focus was still in technological research, in Horizon 2020 the focus is in innovation, delivering economic growth faster and delivering solutions to end users that are often governmental agencies.

Contents

History

The MCFA was launched at an inaugural seminar in Brussels in October 1996. This seminar was organized under the auspices of the European Commission. During its first three years the Association received a generous support from the European Commission. At the same time the Marie Curie Fellowships Unit at the Directorate-General for Research of the European Commission supported the Association with advice and logistical help. In 1999, the MCFA was awarded UNESCO's Niels Bohr Medal at the occasion of the World Conference on Science (Budapest 26 June - 1 July 1999).

Brussels Capital region of Belgium

Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country and is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, but is separate from the Flemish Region and the Walloon Region. Brussels is the most densely populated and the richest region in Belgium in terms of GDP per capita. It covers 161 km2 (62 sq mi), a relatively small area compared to the two other regions, and has a population of 1.2 million. The metropolitan area of Brussels counts over 2.1 million people, which makes it the largest in Belgium. It is also part of a large conurbation extending towards Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven and Walloon Brabant, home to over 5 million people.

UNESCO Specialised agency of the United Nations

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris. Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter. It is the successor of the League of Nations' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.

Structure

All activities of the MCFA are co-ordinated on the international level. The running of the Association lies in the hands of the Administrative Board that is elected by the members of the Association at the Annual General Meeting. National Groups are one of the pillars of the MCFA. All national groups have their own co-ordinators for the various national activities. These activities include meetings, advice on contract problems, meetings with national government officials, marketing articles and the like. The national co-ordinators form the local groups committee. Regional group meetings are usually informal gatherings of fellows working in large institutions, or living in large cities or within one region. They are useful as social get-togethers, and for help with individual contract problems.

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