10 December 2015 – Parallel Session Because Scientists can ‘also’ be Entrepreneurs: Initiatives at MCAA and Success Stories Roy Someshwar, Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) Synergies to fuel Researchers’ Careers Luxembourg, 10 – 11 December 2015 organised by

2  Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA)  Why COFUND Fellows should join MCAA  Bridging Science & Business – Initiatives at MCAA  Scientists can ‘also’ be Entrepreneurs - Success Stories A Quick Overview

3 Marie Skłodowska-Curie ( )  Established in 2012  An international non-profit association (AISBL) [since 2014]  Currently 6600 registered members Nationality Marie Curie Alumni Association - MCAA

4 Networking Collaboration Mutual understanding Forum for debate Global relationship Promotion of MSCA Career enhancement Ambassadors of MSCA MC experience of mobility Dissemination of outputs Countries Sectors Disciplines MCAA – Aims & Objectives Training and Workshops

5  Current fellows – You don’t need to be an “Alumni”  Past fellows – from FP4 to Horizon 2020  From any disciplines – from Humanities to Rocket Science  Any sectors – from Academia to Entrepreneur  Any countries – from Asia to America MCAA – Who Can Join? MCAA membership is FREE! COFUND Fellows are eligible to join MCAA Any MSCA fellow or Alumni who has benefited from a Marie S. Curie Action

6 10 Reasons – Why you should join MCAA?

7 1. Micro Travel Grants  Conferences  Training  Career Development

8 2. Micro Media Grants  Science Communication (project video, website)  Journal publication  Publishing a Book

9 3. Training on Transferable Skills  Webinars from Experts (upcoming from Elsevier!)  MCAA Annual Conference  Thematic Workshops [e.g., Bridging Science and Business, Research Integrity]

10 4. Start your own Working Group or Join existing ones  GEMS [Gender Equality]  Policy for Successful Researchers  Bridging Science & Business Funding of up to 5000 Euros

11 5. Start your own Regional Chapter or Join existing ones Currently there are 22 Chapters across the world Funding of up to 5000 Euros

12 6. Get ‘Expert Advice’ in MCAA Forums  Salary Issues  Tax Issues  Problems with Supervisors

13 7. Become Marie S. Curie Ambassadors Be the face of the Marie S. Curie Program

14 8. Networking across Disciplines and Country 6600 Members from around the world Nationality

15 9. Develop Leadership Skills & cross- cultural Communication Skills  11 Board Members from 8 Countries and representing 4 Continents  Chapter Chairs are from different countries Far East Chapter Chair is Bangladeshi Nordics Chapter Chair is Chinese Italian Chapter Chair is Indian Austrian Chapter Chair is Italian

Share your next BIG Idea  Quarterly Newsletter  Annual Magazine Readership of 7000 Audience

17 MCAA – Bridging Science & Business Working Group Policy for Successful Researchers Working Group Policy for Successful Researchers Working Group Bridging Science & Business Working Group Bridging Science & Business

18  2 Large Scale Survey on MSCA Fellows were done  Response Received from Fellows  White Paper on Bridging Science & Business in making Working Group – Policy for Successful Researchers Chair of this W.G., Marco Masia is a member of EU Horizon 2020 Advisory Group

19  Training of MSCA Fellows – upcoming event MCAA Annual Conference, Venice, 4 th -5 th March  Mentor – Mentee Program  Webinar on Start-Up Success Stories / IP Management  Self-help Discussion Forum Working Group – Bridging Science & Business

20 MSCA Success Stories Scientists can ‘also’ be Entrepreneurs

21 Roy Someshwar PhD in Robotics A Marie Curie Fellow Co-Founder of SmartTag Seasoned Entrepreneur

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23 Vesna Prckovska PhD in Neuroscience A Marie Curie Fellow Co-Founder of MintLabs Cloud-based Brain imaging solution

24 Inter-sectoral Mobility & Employability Take away Message

25 Career beyond Academia

26 Roy Someshwar, Executive Committee Member Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA)