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​The 2018 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND) call is now open. The call documents, including the, Guide for Applicants are available on the Participant Portal. The call deadline is 17:00 Brussels time (16:00 UK time) on 27 September 2018.
The COFUND scheme aims to stimulate regional, national or international programmes to foster excellence in researchers' training, mobility and career development, spreading the best practices of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions. COFUND projects can take the form of either Doctoral, or Fellowship programmes. The indicative call budget in 2018 is €80 million (this is the same as the budget for the 2017 call) and it is distributed as follows:
•€30 million is reserved for COFUND Doctoral Programmes;
•€50 million is reserved for COFUND Fellowship Programmes.

The general COFUND rules remain unchanged in comparison to previous calls. Following a review of the MSCA unit cost model earlier in the year, it was decided that the living allowance contribution would increase by 5% in 2018 call. The EU contribution to living allowance for COFUND Early-Stage Researchers is now €1,935 and €2,740 for Experienced Researchers.
The introduction of an additional MSCA Special needs allowance is foreseen in the MSCA Work Programme 2018-20 and will be open to all MSCA schemes. It will be limited to a maximum of €60,000 per researcher and will be available as of Q1 2019. Beneficiaries will be able to apply to the Research Executive Agency for a dedicated special needs grant in COFUND. This grant will take the form of a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) grant.