Recently, following a rigorous review by the European Commission of project content, innovation, impact, and applicant qualifications, Dr. Shen Yigang—from the Department of Intelligent Manufacturing, College of Engineering at Zhejiang Normal University—has successfully secured funding under the Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program.Under the program’s arrangements, Dr. Shen will conduct 24 months of research work at Cardiff University in the UK, supported by a total EU grant of 270,000 euros (approximately 2.1 million RMB).
Named after Marie Curie— the eminent scientist and double Nobel Prize laureate—the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is a premier talent program for early-career scholars established by the European Union. It ranks alongside the UK’s Newton Fellowship and Germany’s Humboldt Fellowship as Europe’s three most prestigious talent initiatives, with the mission of supporting the world’s most promising young researchers in conducting cutting-edge studies.As one of the three pillars of Horizon Europe— the EU’s flagship program for advancing global scientific progress—the MSCA stands as one of the highest forms of individual research funding the EU offers to early-career scholars. It also represents the international academic community’s strong recognition of a young researcher’s exceptional scholarly potential.
Dr. Shen Yigang is among the outstanding research talents recruited by the College of Engineering in recent years. Currently, he conducts research at the Precision Machinery and Intelligent Structures Research Center, within Professor Wen Jianming’s research group at the college. His work focuses on micro-nano manufacturing and biological detection: he has led multiple research projects funded by national, provincial, and municipal grants, and has published numerous papers as first or corresponding author in high-impact journals including Lab on a Chip, Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical, and Matter.
The College of Engineering at Zhejiang Normal University has long been committed to building a robust system for talent development and scientific research. It has now cultivated a high-caliber, internationalized talent team with a rational hierarchical structure, distinct characteristics, and a focus on new productive forces. The successful acquisition of this Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions project is a strong testament to the academic excellence and global competitiveness of the college’s researchers. Looking ahead, the College of Engineering will continue to encourage and support early-career researchers in applying for high-level research initiatives, driving academic innovation and technological advancement. It aims to make greater contributions to helping the region establish itself as a national innovation hub and key talent center, while empowering the high-quality development of the local social economy.