The MSCA 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.

Who can apply for Staff Exchanges?

Staff Exchanges are open to international consortia of universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs and other non-academic organisations. They need to include

• at least three organisations 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 organisations from any country is possible
• if all participating organisations 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 organisations to take part in the planned exchanges.

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

How to apply?

Apply on behalf of an organisation or consortium

Applications to MSCA Staff Exchanges can be submitted at any time from the opening date of the chosen call. The completed proposal, including all annexes, should be submitted by the specified submission deadline of the chosen call.

Applicants can

• find open and forthcoming calls on our page on funding
• find partners and apply through the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal

All relevant documents are available on the dedicated call page on the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal, including

• MSCA work programme and general annexes
• guide for applicants
• specific FAQs
• application and evaluation forms
• online manual on how to submit an application

For more information on the application and evaluation process and contact points for further guidance

• visit MSCA page on how to apply
• visit the European Research Executive Agency website

Indicative timeline

• 5 October 2023: Launch of the call for proposals
• 28 February 2024: Deadline for submitting proposals
• June/July 2024: Notification of call results to applicants (TBC)
• November 2024: Grant agreement signature for successful projects (TBC)
• November 2024: First EU-funded projects start (TBC)