MSCA Staff Exchanges
MSCA Staff Exchanges support the international, intersectoral, and interdisciplinary mobility of research and innovation, enabling knowledge transfer between participating organisations. Partner organisations play an active role in implementing a collaborative R&I project by seconding and/or hosting eligible staff members. The secondments are open to researchers at all career stages, as well as administrative, managerial, and technical staff involved in R&I activities.
Requirements and budget
Eligible applicants
- Consortium must include at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different countries, 2 of which established in a different EU Member States (EU MS) or Horizon Europe Associated Countries (HE AC). In addition to this minimum requirement, other organisations established in EU MS or HE AC and/or non-associated third countries may also participate.
- The consortium must include organisations from both academic and non-academic sectors.
- Only legal entities that are established in EU MS or HE AC can be beneficiaries.
- Affiliated entities are not allowed to participate as they cannot claim costs in MSCA Staff Exchanges.
Secondment requirements
- Exchanges between organisations within EU MS and HE AC should mainly be inter-sectoral, but same-sector exchanges are also possible. Interdisciplinarity is particularly encouraged for secondments between academic organisations.
- Secondments must be between different countries.
- Secondments between non-associated third countries are not eligible.
- Secondments must involve physical mobility of the eligible staff members and must always take place between legal entities independent from each other.
- Secondments must be performed on a full-time basis.
- Secondments must last at least 1 month and cannot be longer than 12 months for the same staff member (independently of the number of organisations the staff is seconded to).
- The secondment of a staff member may be split into several stays with one or several beneficiaries or associated partners.
Seconded staff members
- Secondments are open for researchers at any career stage (from doctoral candidates to postdoctoral researchers), as well as administrative, managerial and technical staff supporting R&I activities under the action.
- After the period of secondment, seconded staff should return to their sending institution, thus maximising the impact of the action for knowledge sharing and longterm collaboration.
Project duration
Up to 48 months.
Project budget and applicable unit contributions
- Unit costs apply.
- The budget depends on the number of person-months requested.
- The overall EU contribution amounts to a maximum of 360 person-months per project.
Contributions for staff members per person/month | Institutional contributions per person/month | ||
| Top-up allowance* | Special needs allowance (if applicable) | Research, training, and networking contribution | Management and indirect contribution |
| EUR 2870 | requested unit** x (1/number of months) | EUR 1300 | EUR 1000 |
*The top-up allowance for the seconded staff member contributes to travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs to the secondment.
**The pre-defines categories are as follows: EUR 3 000, EUR 4 500, EUR 6 000, EUR 9 500, EUR 13 000, EUR 18 500, EUR 27 500, EUR 35 500, EUR 47 500, and EUR 60 000.