Bridging minds, building futures: Introducing the new MCAA brand and website
A new era for a decade-old mission
Since its establishment in February 2014, the MCAA has been dedicated to bringing together the MSCA community, supporting the professional development of fellows and alumni of the programme, and giving them a voice in European science policy. Over the last decade, the Association has grown into a strong, global network of over 23,000 members, extending the benefits of the MSCA programme to our members' entire careers and, by extension, to society as a whole.
“Our new visual identity and website embody the values and aspirations that have always guided the MCAA. They symbolise the bridges we build between disciplines, cultures, and generations of researchers, and reaffirm our collective dedication to fostering collaboration and excellence within the global research community,” says Gian Maria Greco, Chair of the MCAA.
The roll-out of the new brand and website starts immediately, in time for a significant upcoming milestone: the 30th anniversary of the MSCA programme in 2026.
Motivations behind the rebranding
While the MCAA's core mission remains unchanged, our brand must evolve with the world. This rebranding, which includes the new visual identity and a complete website redesign, was set in motion by the previous MCAA Board to ensure our digital presence aligns with the changing needs of our community and the surrounding world. We are grateful for their vision and dedication in setting this foundation.
The previous MCAA logo, the beloved Warhol-like colourful quadruple representation of Marie Skłodowska-Curie, will always remain close to our hearts due to its long history. However, the previous logo presented two main challenges.
First, it was an adaptation of a former MSCA programme logo. While this originally strengthened the connection between the two, the visual similarity eventually caused confusion, with other organisations also using the free-to-use logo to promote the MSCA. Furthermore, later on, the European Commission phased out this version of the MSCA logo, creating a visual distance between the programme and the MCAA.
Second, as an organisation committed to inclusivity and largely financed by public funds, the MCAA’s adherence to the EU Web Accessibility Directive is a significant requirement. The previous brand failed this standard, using too many primary colours with insufficient contrast and condensed fonts that hampered legibility. These accessibility issues affected both the brand elements and our previous website, which, while functional, presented challenges with navigability and user-friendliness.
We understood that to solve these problems, a simultaneous update was essential.
Honouring our past, looking to the future
The new logo was designed to give continuity to the MCAA's distinctive brand. We've simplified the colours and elements while keeping Marie Skłodowska-Curie at the centre of focus and giving her more prominence. Moreover, the curve crossing the text depicts a bridge, a powerful symbol of the MCAA’s goal of connecting brilliant minds worldwide.
The inspiration for the renewed MCAA logo comes from our new motto, 'Bridging minds, building futures.’ It represents our mission to connect brilliant minds worldwide while empowering a community committed to shaping the future of research and society as a whole.
Together with the updated logo, the new MCAA fonts and colour palette have been refreshed to fully comply with accessibility requirements. The new colour combinations ensure enough contrast for easy reading, and the selected fonts are clean, sharp, and legible even at smaller sizes. Additionally, all brand elements are better aligned with the MSCA, creating a clear visual connection between the Association and the programme, without similar potential for mix-ups as before.
“The new MCAA logo, brand identity, and website bring us into a new decade without sacrificing our history. An enhanced user experience and accessible materials are essential steps toward building a more inclusive MCAA for our community,” says MCAA Executive Director Mostafa Moonir Shawrav.
Enjoy browsing our new digital home!
Discover the new MCAA brand guidelines
Do you have questions about the new brand and/or website? Contact us
About the MCAA
The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) is a global network of researchers who have benefited from or are benefiting from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The MCAA supports and contributes to advancing knowledge for a global, diverse, and informed society. Its primary focus is to support its members’ career development, offer networking opportunities, and contribute to shaping research and innovation policies in the EU. Currently, the MCAA has over 23,000 members from 150+ countries, at all career stages and from diverse research fields.
