TULIP: Advancing Fertility Research via Cross-Sector Collaboration
Client
TULIP consortium by Karolinska InstitutetClient Overview:
TULIP is a consortium of 12 organisations, coordinated by Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), and composed of academic, clinical, and private-sector partners across Europe. The partnership includes three private companies as beneficiaries and one as an associated partner, together representing expertise that spans biomedical research, applied medical technology, and clinical practice.
The project was designed to advance innovation in fertility diagnostics and treatment by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration through staff mobility. Civitta supported the consortium in developing the proposal, which was successfully funded under Horizon Europe MSCA Staff Exchange. The four-year project will start in January 2026.
The Challenge:
The consortium had a strong, multidisciplinary vision focused on fertility research, yet no existing EU funding call directly matched their ambitions. The MSCA Staff Exchange scheme offered a possible fit but came with complex eligibility criteria requiring international, intersectoral, and interdisciplinary secondments conditions that can be difficult to navigate without prior experience.
Several medical doctors were also affiliated with multiple institutions, adding further complexity in defining which organisations should formally participate to ensure both eligibility and scientific coherence. The partners needed a clear project structure and strategic alignment to turn their research vision into a fundable and compliant Horizon Europe proposal.
Our Approach:
Civitta worked closely with all partners to design a viable and fully eligible project structure under MSCA Staff Exchange. Our team ensured that scientific ambitions, mobility requirements, and eligibility criteria were perfectly aligned. We supported the consortium through the entire process:
- Mapped the consortium’s goals to MSCA requirements, ensuring full eligibility.
- Advised on partner representation, clarifying researcher affiliations and participation.
- Developed a balanced secondment plan linking academia, clinical institutions, and industry to encourage knowledge exchange.
- Coordinated proposal writing and submission, guiding the project through to Grant Agreement preparationand ensuring seamless communication with the European Commission.
This structured, collaborative approach resulted in a scientifically sound, well-structured, and compliant project ready for implementation.
Results & Impact:
The TULIP project received high evaluation scores and successfully secured EU funding under Horizon Europe MSCA Staff Exchange. The Grant Agreement was signed in 2025, and the project will begin in January 2026.
TULIP provides a clear framework for staff mobility that connects clinical needs, academic research, and industrial innovation. Through international exchanges, it will:
- Train researchers across sectors,
- Share advanced methodologies, and
- Foster innovative ideas leading to a better understanding of infertility and improved treatment options.
Civitta’s expert support helped transform a promising collaboration into a fundable, compliant, and strategically structured EU project, positioning the consortium for long-term scientific and societal impact.
Key Takeaways:
- Early strategic design and clear eligibility mapping are essential for complex MSCA consortia.
- Civitta’s deep understanding of EU funding mechanisms enabled the translation of a complex vision into a practical, fundable project design.
- The approach used in TULIP is applicable to other multidisciplinary partnerships, especially where strong scientific collaboration must align with formal EU funding structures.
