For the first time, Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon will coordinate one of the winning proposals in the 2023 competition of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks of Actions (MSCA DN). The new doctoral network, called MATCH (Multicore Fiber Applications and Technologies), will direct research efforts towards the latest generation of optical fibres. This new generation offers the possibility to lower costs, reduce energy consumption and significantly increase the capacity of the communications network by more than ten times while still being as compatible as possible with the current infrastructure. The consortium led by Professor Adolfo Cartaxo and other DCTI professors (Tiago Alves, Luís Cancela and João Rebola) is made of 5 different European universities (Germany, Denmark, Spain, France and Israel) and 4 other partners from industry and research.

Out of 1066 applications this year, only 128 proposals will be funded at the European level. Portugal takes part in 32 winning consortia but coordinates only 5.

The MSCA DN is a Horizon Europe instrument to fund international PhD programmes, requiring consortia from at least three institutions from three different countries. Like the other Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, they aim to train and develop researchers' careers through three dimensions of mobility: between countries, academic and non-academic sectors, and disciplines.

 The next call opens on May 29, 2024