MSCA for Researchers at Risk 2021

Inspireurope+ will strengthen and coordinate support in Europe for researchers at risk. Building on the work undertaken by Inspireurope (launched under MSCA in 2019), Inspireurope+ proceeds from the view that excellence in research depends upon free and open scientific debate and requires a diversity of perspectives and methodologies to flourish. The need to expand support for researchers at risk is urgent, and the value of a coordinated effort across countries and institutions that is dedicated to providing support for researchers at risk has never been clearer.

Researchers at risk are scholars, scientists and researchers who face threats to their life, liberty, or research careers, including those who have been displaced because of such threats. Persecution, harassment, intimidation and violence directed at scholars, scientists and researchers not only place individual lives and careers in jeopardy. Such threats and abuses also put the very future of research at stake. Inspireurope+ will combine forces across national and institutional boundaries to respond. Through guidance, training and consultations with over 300 researchers at risk, Inspireurope+ will help to build up the skills and knowledge needed to facilitate access to European, national and institutional funding and support. Through guidance and advice for over 400 employers in the academic and non-academic sectors, Inspireurope+ will increase institutional capacity and preparedness to support researchers at risk. Through policy input to the national and European levels, Inspireurope+ will facilitate and encourage the development of new support programmes and improve the policy environment in Europe for researchers at risk. Project partners will leverage their vast networks to bring project outputs to over 30,000 people in more than 100 countries. Inspireurope+ will consolidate, diversify and multiply efforts to improve lives and career opportunities, together with researchers at risk.