The SPARKLE MSCA Doctoral Network held its kickoff meeting on 9-10 January 2025 in Copenhagen. The PIs from the beneficiary institutions met to discuss the project’s structure, research goals, and training programme for 14 PhD candidates. The meeting covered organisational matters, secondments, budget planning, and outreach activities. A project website has been set up, and recruitment is now open for PhD positions. The network will provide interdisciplinary training and international collaboration opportunities. This meeting was an important first step in building a strong foundation for the project.