Information note for Marie Skłodowska-Curie staff members in Staff Exchanges.
Date: 2023-09-13
Institutions: European Research Executive Agency
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, confidentiality, education grant, industry-research relations, innovation, intellectual property, professional qualifications, promotion, research expenditure (EU), research integrity, research staff, scientific cooperation, teleworking

Information note for Marie 
Skłodowska-Curie staff members in 
Staff Exchanges 

Version: 1, Date of release: September 2023 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture  
Directorate C: Innovation, Digital Education and International Cooperation 
Unit C.2: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions 

European Research Executive Agency (REA) 
Directorate A: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions & Support to Experts 

Contact email: EAC-MARIE-SKLODOWSKA-CURIE-ACTIONS@ec.europa.eu 

European Commission 
B-1049 Brussels 

The European Commission is not liable for any consequence stemming from the reuse of this publication. 
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2023. 
© European Union, 2023 

Reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. The reuse policy of European Commission 
documents is implemented based on Commission Decision 2011/833/EU (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39). 

PDF 

ISBN 978-92-95234-14-7   

doi: 10.2848/20778 

JW-07-23-343-EN-N 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Information note for Marie 
Skłodowska-Curie staff members in 
Staff Exchanges 

2023 

EN 

Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture 
European Research Executive Agency (REA) 
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contents 

1.  What is the Staff Exchanges (SE) scheme? .................................................... 5 

2.  SE Staff Members .............................................................................................. 5 

2.1. Eligibility ............................................................................................................ 5 

3.  What are my rights as a SE staff member? ..................................................... 5 

3.1. Conditions during the secondment ................................................................... 5 

3.2. Relationship between the staff member and the sending organisation ............ 6 

3.3. Assistance ........................................................................................................ 6 

3.4. Hosting ............................................................................................................. 6 

3.5. Supervision ...................................................................................................... 6 

4.  Allowances ......................................................................................................... 6 

4.1. Staff member contributions ............................................................................... 7 

4.2. Institutional contributions .................................................................................. 7 

4.3. Special needs allowance .................................................................................. 7 

5.  Specific Issues .................................................................................................. 7 

5.1. Ethics and Research Integrity ........................................................................... 7 

5.2. Complaints ....................................................................................................... 8 

5.3. Inform your Sending and Hosting Organisation ............................................... 8 

5.4. Suspensions .................................................................................................... 8 

5.5. Teleworking/virtual mobility .............................................................................. 8 

5.6. Intellectual Property Rights .............................................................................. 8 

5.7. Confidentiality ................................................................................................... 8 

5.8. Submission of Questionnaires ......................................................................... 9 

5.9. How do I submit a Questionnaire? ................................................................... 9 

6.  After your secondment ..................................................................................... 9 

6.1. MSCA Doctoral Networks (DN) ........................................................................ 9 

6.2. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) ............................................................ 10 

6.3. The Marie Curie Alumni Association .............................................................. 10 

6.4. Other opportunities ........................................................................................ 10 

7.  Key terms ......................................................................................................... 11 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
Information note for participants in Marie Skłodowska-Curie 
Staff Exchanges (SE) 

This  document  provides  information  on  the  conditions  for,  and  the  financing  of, 
secondments  as  part  of  a  Staff  Exchanges  (SE)  projects  and  complements  the 
general Information package for Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellows. 

1. What is the Staff Exchanges (SE) scheme? 

The  SE  scheme  aims to  promote  inter-sector and  international collaboration among 
organisations  engaged  in  research  and  innovation  (R&I)  activities  via  the  exchange 
of  R&I  personnel  (staff  members),  to  bring  knowledge  and  ideas  from  research  to 
market (and vice-versa). 

SE  involves  R&I  organisations  from  the  academic  and  non-academic  sectors  (in 
particular  SMEs),  based  in  Europe  (EU  Member  States  [MS]  and  Horizon  Europe 
Associated  Countries  [AC]1) and  outside  Europe  (third  countries).  The organisations 
constituting  the  partnership  contribute  directly  to  the  implementation  of  a  joint  R&I 
project by seconding and/or hosting eligible staff members. 

2. SE Staff Members 

2.1. Eligibility 

To  be  eligible  for  secondment  within  an  SE  project,  you  must  –  at  the  date  of 
secondment – be: 

•  Either doctoral or post-doctoral researcher staff2; or 

•  a technical, managerial, or administrative staff supporting the R&I activities of the 

project; and 

•  actively engaged in or linked to research and/or innovation activities  for at least 
one  month  (full-time  equivalent)  at  the  sending  institution  before  the  first 
period of secondment. 

3. What are my rights as a SE staff member? 

3.1. Conditions during the secondment 

Your  sending  organisation  must  ensure  that  your  rights  and  obligations  remain 
unchanged  during  the  secondment.  You  must  be  able  to  enjoy  at  least  the  same 
standards  and  working  conditions  at  the  place  of  the  implementation  of  the 
secondment  as  those  applicable  to  local  persons  holding  a  similar  position. 
Throughout  your  secondment,  you  should  be  covered  by  an  adequate  medical 
insurance  scheme.  After  your  secondment,  you  should  be  reintegrated  at  your 
sending organisation. 

1 list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf (europa.eu) 
2 See key terms 

5 

 
 
 
The participating organisations (sending/hosting) must ensure that you are seconded 
on a  full-time3  basis. You are  therefore  not expected  to  work on other R&I activities 
during  the  period  that  you  are  receiving  SE  funding.  Equally,  your  sending/hosting 
organisation  cannot  require  or  insist  that  you  work  on  other  R&I  activities  except 
those of the SE project. 

3.2. Relationship between the staff member and the sending 

organisation 

The type of relationship (employment contract, fellowship or other) between you and 
your  sending  organisation  is  not  pre-defined  by  the  SE  project.  However,  this 
relationship  must  comply  with  national  law  and  internal  practices  and,  during  the 
secondment, confer to your sending organisation the necessary legal means in terms 
of controls and instructions to ensure the proper implementation of the R&I activities 
in line with the grant agreement. If this is not the case, the sending organisation must 
conclude  a  contract  or  a  supplementary  agreement  with  you  which  will  allow  this 
before the secondment. 

3.3. Assistance 

The  participating  organisations  (sending/hosting)  are  required  to  assist  you  in  all 
administrative procedures related to your secondment within the project4, for example 
in  obtaining  a  visa,  finding  local  accommodation,  etc.  They  are  also  required  to 
inform  you  about  your  rights  and  obligations  under  the  grant  agreement  (GA), 
including when and for how long your secondment shall last and the allowances you 
are entitled to receive. 

3.4. Hosting 

During  the  secondment,  your  hosting  institution  should  provide  you  with  the 
resources  and  equipment  required  to  conduct  your  work.  Note  that  your  host 
institution may be required to prove that your secondment took place as declared5. 

3.5. Supervision 

Your host institution should be able to ensure adequate supervision of your research 
to  allow  you  to  satisfactorily  complete  your  research  project  while  on  secondment 
(see MSCA Guidelines on Supervision). 

4. Allowances 

The  financial  contribution  provided to  your sending  organisation  for the  purposes  of 
implementing  the  SE  action  is  calculated  based  on  unit  contributions.  A  unit 
contribution is a fixed amount per month of secondment (called “person-month”). 

The  unit  contributions  of  a  SE  project  are  divided  into  two  categories:  those  for  the 
benefit  of  the  staff  member  ("staff  member  unit  contributions"),  and  those  for  the 
benefit  of  the  organisation  ("institutional  unit  contributions").  The  EU  contribution  is 

3 Article 18 of the model grant agreement for SE 
4 Article 18 of the model grant agreement for SE 
5 Article 18 of the model grant agreement for SE 

6 

 
 
 
calculated by multiplying the amount per unit by the number of implemented person-
months. 

4.1. Staff member contributions 

The  staff  member  unit  contribution  is  a  top-up  allowance  (EUR  2.300  per  person-
month  of  the  secondment)  to  be  fully  used  to  support  your  travel,  accommodation, 
and  subsistence  costs  during  the  secondment.  Please  note  that  your  salary  or  any 
other  type  of  remuneration  that  you  might  be  receiving  is  not  covered  by  the  EU 
contribution.  Therefore,  your  sending  organisation  is  expected  to  continue  paying 
your salary (or any other type of remuneration) during your stay abroad. 

4.2. Institutional contributions  

These allowances are divided into two categories: 

•  Research, training, and networking contributions: This is a fixed amount of 
EUR 1 300 per person-month of the secondment. Although administered by the 
beneficiary,  this  amount  is  intended  to  cover  the  costs  associated  with  your 
training  courses, 
participation 
conferences, workshops, coordination meetings and networking activities. This 
the  cost  of  your  research  (e.g., 
amount  should  also  help 
consumables),  as  appropriate.  Note,  however, 
is 
responsible for the proper use of this amount. 

for  example  attending 

the  beneficiary 

the  project, 

to  cover 

that 

in 

•  Management and indirect contributions: This is a fixed amount of EUR 1000 
per  person-month  of  the  secondment  in  order  to  cover  the  host  institution's 
costs of involvement in the project. 

4.3. Special needs allowance 

This allowance contributes to the additional costs for the acquisition of special needs 
items  and  services  for  researchers  with  disabilities,  whose  long-term  physical, 
mental,  intellectual,  or  sensory  impairments  are  certified  by  a  competent  national 
authority, and of such nature that their participation in the action may not be possible 
without  them  (e.g.,  assistance  by  third  persons,  adaptation  of  work  environment, 
additional  travel/transportation  costs).  These  special  needs  items  or  services  must 
not have been funded from another source (e.g., social security or health insurance). 
This  special  needs  allowance  should  be  requested  when  the  need  arises.  The 
beneficiary where the staff belongs will contact the Project Officer at REA. 

5. Specific Issues 

5.1. Ethics and Research Integrity 

The  project  must  comply  with  ethical  principles,  including  the  highest  standards  of 
research integrity as set out in the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity6 
and,  all  applicable  international,  EU  and  national  law,  including  the  EU  Charter  of 
Fundamental  Rights  and  the  European  Convention  for  the  Protection  of  Human 
Rights  and  Fundamental  Freedoms  and  its  Supplementary  Protocols.  Any  specific 

6 https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/European-Code-of-Conduct-Revised-Edition-2023.pdf  

7 

 
 
 
ethics requirements  will  be  outlined  in  the  Description  of the action  (Annex 1  to  the 
grant agreement). Should any ethics concerns that you are not able to satisfactorily 
address  with  your  supervisor  and/or  project  coordinator  arise  during  project 
implementation, please refer to the complaints procedure below. 

5.2. Complaints 

Your project should have an internal complaints procedure in place, and it should be 
clear  to  whom  you  should  refer  to  in  case  of  complaints.  Should  any  concern  arise 
during project implementation that you are not able to satisfactorily address with your 
supervisor and/or the project coordinator, please refer to the guidance on complaints 
in the “Supervision and career guidance” section of the general Information package 
for  Marie  Skłodowska-Curie  fellows.  The  REA  Project  Officer  responsible  for  your 
project will also attend the mid-term review meeting and will offer you the opportunity 
to discuss any concerns that may arise. 

5.3. Inform your Sending and Hosting Organisation 

During  the  secondment,  you  are  requested  to  inform  your  sending  and  hosting 
organisation of any events or circumstances likely to affect the planned R&I activities 
as soon as possible. These could include, for example, encountering difficulties with 
your research or seeking changes in your secondment plan. 

5.4. Suspensions 

Secondments cannot be suspended. However, stays at the hosting organisation may 
be  split  into  several  periods.  Please  note  that  to  be  eligible  for  funding,  the  overall 
duration of a secondment (e.g., summing up all the split stays) must be at least one 
month, and not last longer than 12 months. 

5.5. Teleworking/virtual mobility  

Teleworking  from  the  country  of  the  sending  organisation  (i.e.,  no  mobility)  is  not 
allowed. 

5.6. Intellectual Property Rights 

The participating organisations must give you and, where appropriate, their partners 
in  the project,  royalty-free  access  to  the  background  and  results  necessary for your 
research work. "Background" means any data, know-how or information that is held 
by  an  organisation  before  it  signs  the  GA,  and  which  is  needed  to  implement  the 
project  or  exploit  its  results.  "Results"  means  any  tangible  or  intangible  output 
generated by the project, such as data, knowledge, or information. 

5.7. Confidentiality 

You must maintain all necessary confidentiality relating to your research work. If the 
project involves, uses, or generates information that should not be made public (e.g., 
commercially  sensitive  information,  business  or  trade  secrets,  confidential  market 
data,  valuable  results  not  yet  protected  by  intellectual  property  rights,  security-

8 

 
 
sensitive  information,  etc),  it  should  be  identified  and  handled  as  ‘sensitive’  in 
accordance with the provisions of the Model Grant Agreement7.  

5.8. Submission of Questionnaires 

Based on Article 18. of the grant agreement, funded MSCA fellows are requested to 
submit  two  questionnaires  about  their  experience:  one  immediately  following  the 
completion  of  the  fellowship  ("Evaluation  Questionnaire")  and  one  two  years  later 
that,  as  a  MSCA  Staff  Exchange 
("Follow-up  Questionnaire").  Please  note 
participant,  you  should  complete  each  form  only  once,  immediately  after  and  two 
years after your last secondment.  

We strongly value the opinions of all participants funded through the programme and 
your  responses  to  these  questionnaires  will  help  us  shape  the  future  design  of  the 
MSCA.  

5.9. How do I submit a Questionnaire? 

The  Evaluation  Questionnaire  can  be  accessed  here  and 
the  Follow-up 
Questionnaire  can  be  accessed  here.  You  will  need  to  enter  project  related 
information, including your project number and acronym. 

6. After your secondment 

After  your  secondment  period,  you  should  be  reintegrated  into  your  sending 
organisation to share the knowledge you have gained.  

You  might  consider  other  EU  funding  opportunities  once  you  have  completed  your 
project. 

6.1. MSCA Doctoral Networks (DN) 

Doctoral  Networks  (DN)  are  competitively  awarded,  multi-beneficiary,  international 
research and training networks providing post-graduate training in specific and inter-
disciplinary  scientific  fields.  They  bring  together  networks  of  research-performing 
institutions – both from the academic and non-academic sectors – around a common 
research  and  training  programme  to  strengthen  the  career  perspectives  of  doctoral 
candidates and to support entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation in Europe and 
beyond. 

Vacancies  in  DN  projects  are  advertised  and  published  internationally,  including  on 
the Euraxess website. The recruitment procedure is open, transparent, impartial, and 
equitable.  Therefore,  the  final  decision  is  taken  based  on  the  applicants'  scientific 
skills, the relevance of their research experience, the impact of the proposed training 
on their career, and ensuring a fair gender representation. 

7 Article 13 of the model grant agreement for SE. 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
6.2. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) 

These  are  individual  research  fellowships  awarded  to  the  best  or  most  promising 
researchers  of  any  nationality  looking  to  enhance  their  career  development  and 
prospects  by  working  abroad.  Two  types  of  fellowship  are  funded:  European 
Fellowships,  whereby  researchers  must  either  move  to  or  within  Europe  (Member 
State or Horizon Europe Associated Country), and Global Fellowships, in which the 
fellow  is  seconded  to  a  third  country  for  a  maximum  of  two  years  and  then  must 
return to a European host institution for a mandatory 12-month period. To be eligible, 
fellows  must  be  postdoctoral  researchers  at  the  date  of  the  call  deadline,  i.e.,  in  a 
possession of a doctoral degree.  

Funding is available for a period of between 12-24 months for European Postdoctoral 
Fellowships and 24-36 months for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. More information 
is  available  in  the  MSCA  Work  Programme  and  the  respective  PF  Guides  for 
Applicants. 

6.3. The Marie Curie Alumni Association 

As  an  MSCA  researcher,  you  are  also  eligible  to  join  the  MCA  Alumni  Association. 
Established  as  a  not-for-profit  organisation 
the  Association  offers 
opportunities  for  networking  and  peer  exchange,  an  alumni  directory,  job  offers,  an 
events calendar, and other services of potential interest to researchers. The MCAA is 
free to join and is open to all MSCA-supported researchers, past and present. 

in  2014, 

6.4. Other opportunities 

A number of other ideas for opportunities after you have completed your fellowship, 
as well as several online resources are listed in the general information package for 
MSCA fellows under section 11: “Looking ahead: Opportunities after your fellowship”. 

10 

 
 
 
 
7. Key terms 

•  Beneficiary:  every participating organisation  that  signs  the  Grant Agreement 
(GA) with the European Research Executive Agency (REA) is a "beneficiary". 
Each  beneficiary  contributes  directly  to  the  implementation  of  the  research, 
transfer  of  knowledge  and  training  activities  by  supervising,  hosting,  training 
and/or seconding staff members.  

•  Associated Partner organisations contribute directly to the implementation of 
the  research,  transfer  of  knowledge  and  training  activities  by  hosting, 
supervising, training and/or seconding staff members but do not sign the GA.  

•  Staff  members  are  either  doctoral  candidates  (i.e.,  not  in  possession  of  a 
doctoral degree) or post-doctoral researchers (i.e., in possession of a doctoral 
degree),  as  well  as  administrative,  managerial,  or  technical  staff  supporting 
R&I activities under the action. They have been actively engaged in or linked 
to  research  and  innovation  activities  for  at  least  1  month  at  the  sending 
organisation prior to the secondment. They have a legal link (e.g., employment 
contract)  with  the  sending  organisation.  They  have  the  proper  expertise  and 
skills to implement the R&I activities in the project. 

•  Full-time  equivalent  is  the  total  time,  according  to  national  law,  you  have 
been  working  on  R&I  activities  measured  from  the  date  when  your  legal  link 
(i.e., contract) entered into force and without interruption. 

•  Secondment period means the period(s) spent by the staff member in a host 
organisation (including travel periods) for the purpose of the action and in line 
with  the  provisions  of  the  GA,  for  at  least  1  month  and  no  longer  than  12 
months,  and  between  different  countries.  Secondments  between  Member 
States  and/or  Associated  Countries  must  be  interdisciplinary  if  in  the  same 
sector (1/3 rule – SE)8. 

8  Same-sector  secondments  that  meet  the  interdisciplinary  conditions  between  institutions  in  EU  Member  States  /  Horizon 
Europe Associated Countries are eligible for funding for up to 1/3 of the project’s total eligible person-months funded by the EU. 

Secondments  are  considered  as  interdisciplinary  if  the  activities  performed  during  the  secondment  integrate  aspects 
(information, data, techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts, or theories) from two or more different scientific disciplines. 

11