The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges (MSCA-SE) support up to four-year joint research and innovation projects implemented by seconding and/or hosting eligible staff members. The next call is due to open on Thursday, October 6th, 2022. The call is open to international consortia of universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs, and other non-academic organizations to exchange their staff for up to 12 months.
MSCA Staff Exchanges 2022 flyer
Objective of Staff Exchanges
The MSCA Staff Exchanges (SE) action funds short-term international and inter-sectoral exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities of participating organizations. The aim is to develop sustainable collaborative projects between different organizations from the academic and non-academic sectors (in particular SMEs), based in Europe and beyond. Exchanged staff benefit from new knowledge, skills, and career development perspectives, while participating organizations increase their research and innovation capacities.
Who can apply for Staff Exchanges?
Staff Exchanges are open to international consortia of universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs and other non-academic organizations. They need to include:
at least three organizations in three different countries, two of which need to be located in a different EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country
above this minimum, the participation of organizations from any country is possible
if all participating organizations are from the same sector (academic or non-academic), at least one must be from a non-associated Third Country
Individual staff members are selected by their sending organizations to take part in the planned exchanges. Secondments between institutions established in third countries or within the same EU Member State or Horizon 2020 Associated Country will not be supported.
What does the funding cover?
Staff Exchanges projects can last up to four years. The grant funds the mobility of seconded staff members from one month to one year. Staff involved should return to their sending organizations after the secondment, to pass on their knowledge.
Staff exchanges between organizations in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries are required to be between different sectors (academic or non-academic), except if they are interdisciplinary. For partnerships with non-associated Third Countries, exchanges within the same sector and the same discipline are allowed.
Staff funded by Staff Exchanges:
can be researchers at any career stage, from PhD candidates to postdoctoral researchers, as well as administrative, technical or managerial staff involved in research and innovation activities
can be of any nationality
must be engaged in, or linked to, research and innovation activities at their sending organization for at least one month prior to the secondment
should return to their sending organization after the secondment, to pass on their knowledge and foster collaboration
Note that the call is not open to individual researchers.
Seconded staff receive:
a top-up allowance (for travel, accommodation, subsistence costs), which is on top of the salary paid by their organization
a special needs allowance, if applicable
In addition, funding is provided for:
research, training, and networking activities
management and indirect costs
Want to learn more? Visit the MSCA-SE homepage and stay tuned to our upcoming events where we will soon open registration for a webinar on MSCA-SE to be held in late October. You can also check out our full MSCA call calendar.