Interview with the Chairs of the newly established Chapters in Canada and Finland
The MCAA proudly announces the launch of new Chapters. Let us introduce their Chairs: Sergio Crespo-Garcia of the Canada Chapter and Cristina Florea of the Finland Chapter. The MCAA Board encourages all members to join the new Chapters.
Sergio Crespo-Garcia, Chair of the MCAA Canada Chapter
What led you to start a Chapter in Canada?
The main driver was the changing role Canada now plays within the European Research Area. Since Canada’s association with Pillar II of Horizon Europe in 2024, the landscape for research collaboration between Canada and Europe has evolved significantly. Canada is now engaging on equal footing with EU Member States, opening new opportunities for researchers, institutions, and partnerships.
While the former MCAA North America Chapter played an important role, it became increasingly clear that the Canadian research ecosystem has its own specific context — from funding structures and immigration pathways to science policy and bilingual realities. These differences have become more pronounced in recent years and call for a more dedicated, Canada-specific approach.
Creating a national Chapter allows Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fellows and alumni in Canada to connect more easily, engage locally, and act as effective bridges between Europe and Canada, while continuing to promote open science and evidence-informed decision-making.
Why should people join your Chapter? Do you have any events planned?
The Canada Chapter is meant to be a practical and welcoming space for MSCA fellows and alumni who are based in Canada or connected to the Canadian research ecosystem. Joining the Chapter gives access to a growing community, opportunities to network locally, and a stronger collective voice when engaging with Canadian and European stakeholders.
Our core activity for the first year will be an in-person inaugural networking event in Montreal on 28 February. We are currently finalising the logistics, and anyone interested in learning more is warmly invited to contact us at [email protected]. The event will focus on community building, strengthening relationships with key Canadian stakeholders, and showcasing the MSCA's impact in Canada.
Looking ahead, members will also be invited to help shape future activities and collaborations with other MCAA Chapters and Working Groups.
What is your main goal for your mandate?
The priority for this initial mandate is to build a solid and sustainable foundation for the MCAA Canada Chapter. This means bringing the Canadian MSCA community together, ensuring leadership continuity, and establishing the Chapter as a visible and trusted presence within the Canadian research landscape.
More broadly, we want to strengthen Canada–Europe research collaboration, support evidence-informed policy discussions, and increase awareness of MSCA opportunities across Canada. Building strong partnerships with national research organisations, government-linked institutions, and European stakeholders will be key to achieving this.
By the end of the mandate, the goal is to have an engaged membership, a clear leadership pipeline, and a Chapter that is well-positioned at the interface of science, policy, and international collaboration.
Cristina Florea, Chair of the MCAA Finland Chapter
What led you to start a Chapter in Finland?
The idea of starting a new Chapter in Finland has been on my mind for several years, especially after moving back from the US as part of the return phase of my MSCA Global Postdoctoral Fellowship. Contributing to the North America Chapter for the past eight years, including six years as the Vice-Chair, was an incredible experience. The community has become like a second family to me. After coming back to Finland, I realised how much I missed that.
And it turns out I was not the only one; many other fellows and alumni felt the same, and were just as interested in contributing to building a new community in Finland. Today, our Chapter already has 70 members, and it keeps growing. I would say that the greatest value of this Chapter is the connections it creates. It brings together fellows and alumni across the country, gives support, and provides a real sense of belonging. Starting this Chapter felt like a natural next step for me, and it’s also a wonderful opportunity to give back.
Why should people join your Chapter? Do you have any events planned?
In Finland, it’s not always easy to meet other fellows, especially if you are in a smaller city or new to a small research group. So, our Chapter makes that much easier. It gives fellows a platform to meet each other, connect over shared interests, and talk openly not only about their research, but also about any challenges they are going through.
Yes, we do have events planned. One of the great initiatives we already started last year, together with our Vice-Chair, Valeria Iannone, is ‘Café with Marie’. It’s a relaxed monthly online meet-up where we connect, welcome new members, get to know each other, and share our experiences. To any Marie Curie fellows and alumni with research connected to Finland: if you haven’t joined the Finland Chapter yet, I encourage you to do so. You will find a welcoming community, and you certainly won’t regret it.
What is your main goal for your mandate?
My main goal during this mandate is to empower MSCA fellows and alumni in Finland and build a strong community together. A key priority is networking and community building, so the focus will be on continuing to grow our membership and creating stronger links between the existing MSCA doctoral/postdoctoral programmes in Finland. One thing we have planned for the next month is our first in-person Finland Chapter meeting in Turku. The goal is to meet in person, build stronger connections, and plan new activities for this year.
At the same time, we are discussing with our neighbouring Chapters from Sweden and Denmark and already have plans for a joint visionary Nordic event this year. We also hope to expand the ‘Café with Marie’ event to the Nordics. Finally, we are preparing to launch the Finland City Ambassadors initiative, inspired by the UK Chapter, to help new fellows settle in when they arrive in Finland.
Author:
Eliška Koňaříková
MCAA Newsletter, Editor-in-Chief
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