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.

MSCA Staff Exchanges can address three dimensions of mobility, which are

1. inter-sectoral
2. international
3. interdisciplinary

Exchanges between organisations within EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries should mainly be inter-sectoral. However, same-sector exchanges are also possible under the condition that they are interdisciplinary. Interdisciplinarity is not required for same-sector exchanges with non-associated Third Countries.

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
• research, training and networking activities
• management and indirect costs

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 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.

The minimal conditions when forming an MSCA Staff Exchanges consortium consist of three elements:

• Organisations: Composed of at least three legal entities independent of each other.
• Countries: Organisations established in three different countries, of which at least two must be in different EU Member States and/or Horizon Europe Associated Countries;
• Sectors: For consortia composed of organisations established in Member States/Associated Countries only, at least one organisation should belong to a different sector (academic or non-academic). If all participating organisations are from the same sector, there must be at least one organisation from a nonassociated third country.

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.

If you are interested in this call or want more information, please contact frecerca.internacional(ELIMINAR)@sjd.es