Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MSCA Staff Exchanges
Short-term secondments for staff between academic and non-academic partners across countries and sectors.
About the MSCA Staff Exchanges
MSCA Staff Exchanges fund short research and innovation secondments for academic and non-academic staff between organisations. Projects typically involve a consortium of 3+ partners from different countries, with staff spending 1–12 months seconded to a partner organisation to build skills, establish collaborations, and transfer knowledge. Unlike Doctoral Networks, participants are not PhD candidates — they are existing researchers, technicians, managers, and administrative staff at any career stage. The funding covers a fixed monthly top-up (~€2,300/month) during the secondment, plus travel. Staff Exchanges are particularly useful for building academia-industry bridges, for transferring research to non-EU partners, and for giving early-career researchers international experience without the formality of a full fellowship.
Key facts
- Duration per secondee
- 1–12 months
- Project duration
- 4 years
- Top-up
- ~€2,300/month
- Consortium
- 3+ countries
- Success rate
- ~15–20%
Who is eligible?
- •Consortium of at least 3 organisations in 3 different countries (at least 1 in EU/associated)
- •Participants must have been employed by their home organisation for at least 1 month before the secondment
- •Secondment duration: 1–12 months per person, with total project person-months capped
- •Open to researchers, technicians, managers, and admin staff — any career stage
Frequently asked questions
+Who can be seconded under Staff Exchanges?
Any research, technical, managerial, or administrative staff member — not just scientists. Early-career researchers and established staff are equally eligible. The focus is on knowledge transfer and skill development.
+Can the secondment host be outside Europe?
Yes. Partners can be anywhere in the world, though at least one organisation in the consortium must be in an EU Member State or associated country. Non-EU partners are particularly valued for third-country collaborations.
+Does Staff Exchanges cover full salaries?
No. Participants remain employed by their home organisation, which continues to pay their salary. MSCA provides a top-up allowance of ~€2,300/month during the secondment plus travel costs.
+How is this different from the old MSCA RISE scheme?
Staff Exchanges is the Horizon Europe successor to MSCA RISE (2014–2020). The structure is similar; the details and eligible cost categories have been simplified. Prior RISE experience is directly relevant.
Looking for proposal-writing advice?
Read the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions writing guide →Related programmes
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