Are you interested in enhancing the research and innovation potential of your organisation through staff mobility? Would you like to engage in international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary research collaborations?
Then the EU-funded MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) Staff Exchanges Action is for you!
Objectives
The MSCA are the European Union’s flagship funding programme to stimulate innovation, transfer knowledge, and boost researchers’ careers. Indeed the Staff Exchanges action funds short-term international and inter-sectoral exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities of participating organisations.
The aim is to develop sustainable collaborative projects between different organisations 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 organisations increase their research and innovation capacities.
R&I domain
The MSCA are open to all domains of research and innovation, chosen freely by the applicants, and have a strong focus in interdisciplinary, international and intersectoral cooperation.
Who can apply
To be eligible, consortia must be made of at least three organisations in three different countries. Two of these must be in separate EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. Beyond that, organisations from any country in the world may participate.
Organisations from all socioeconomic sectors in any country can apply to Staff Exchanges. This includes organisations such as
- higher education institutions
- research institutions and infrastructures
- private sector organisations, including industry, businesses, and small and medium-sized enterprises
- public sector organisations, including national, regional, and local governments, agencies, and museums
- other socio-economic actors, including non-governmental organisations, charities, etc.
Participating organisations host and train seconded staff from other project partners at their own premises, and second staff abroad to other organisations in the consortium. However, the participation modalities differ depending on where the organisation is based.
- Organisations based in EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme can participate as beneficiaries, meaning that they are automatically eligible for funding and can second, host, and train staff members
- Organisations based in all third countries can participate as associated partners.
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 organisations after the secondment, to pass on their knowledge.
Staff exchanges between organisations 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 organisation for at least one month prior to the secondment
- should return to their sending organisation after the secondment, to pass on their knowledge and foster collaboration
Seconded staff receives
- a top-up allowance (for travel, accommodation, subsistence costs), which is on top of the salary paid by their organisation
- a special needs allowance, if applicable
In addition, funding is provided for
- research, training and networking activities
- management and indirect costs
Deadline and budget
The deadline to submit proposals for the MSCA Call 2023 is 28 February 2024, 17:00 Brussels time.
This is a single stage process.
The European Commission will allocate €78.5 million to fund around 75 projects promoting cooperation between organisations in the EU and around the globe in research and innovation.
How to apply
Application must be submitted here: Funding & tender opportunities portal.
More about the MSCA Staff Exchanges
On December 8, 2023, the European Research Executive Agency hosted a web-based info session to offer comprehensive information about:
- The main features and impact of the MSCA Staff Exchanges Action;
- How to apply to our call for proposal
More in the recording of this info session here.
For more information, a factsheet is available here as well as a presentation here.