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Staff exchanges

MSCA Staff Exchanges

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Staff Exchanges are provided by the European Commission to implement short-term international and intersectoral exchanges of staff members involved in the research and innovation activities of the participating organisations. Participants have the opportunity to increase their knowledge, exchange expertise, master new approaches and develop new career perspectives by working in different countries and organisations.

Since 2014, the University of Padua has participated in 16 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Projects under Horizon 2020 and in 11 MSCA Staff Exchanges (SE) under Horizon Europe, for a total of 27 projects!

Consult the profiles of the MSCA Staff Exchanges projects  to find out more about the projects funded at the University of Padua.

Staff Exchanges are open to international consortia of universities, research institutes, enterprises, SMEs and other non-academic organisations.

The consortium must consist of:

  • at least three organisations in three different countries, two of which must be located in an EU Member State (MS) or in a Horizon Europe Associated Country (AC);
  • beyond this minimum, organisations from any country may participate;
  • if all participating organisations belong to the same sector (academic or non-academic), at least one must come from a non-associated Third Country.

Staff funded under Staff Exchanges:

  • may include researchers at any career stage, as well as administrative, technical or managerial staff involved in research and innovation activities for at least one month before the secondment;
  • may be of any nationality;
  • should return to the sending organisation after the secondment, to transfer the knowledge acquired and foster collaboration.

Staff exchanges between organisations in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries must take place between different sectors (academic or non-academic), except in interdisciplinary cases. For partnerships with non-associated Third Countries, exchanges within the same sector and the same discipline are permitted.

What can be funded?

The funding covers the mobility of seconded staff members from one month to one year: an additional grant for travel, accommodation and subsistence costs and, where applicable, an allowance for special needs.

  • Contribution towards research, training and networking.
  • Contribution towards management and indirect costs.
    Staff Exchange projects can last up to four years. The EU contribution indicated is calculated on the basis of the planned secondments eligible for funding. The maximum number of secondments eligible for funding is 360 person-months.

The documents relevant to the application include:

  • MSCA Work Programme
  • Guide for MSCA-SE applicants

Both are available on the “Funding and Tenders Opportunities” portal (Funding and Tenders): Funding & tenders (europa.eu)
For information on the support provided by the University of Padua, please write to individual.grants@unipd.it.