The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges action funds short-term international and inter-sectoral exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities of participating organisations. It aims 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.

Funding Organization: EU Horizon Europe

Eligibility

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.

Funding Coverage

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. In addition, funding is provided for research, training and networking activities, as well as management and indirect costs.                    

Application Process

Applications are submiited to the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/how-to-participate/participant-register).

Application Deadline:  8 October 2025

Further Information:  https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/staff-exchanges

List of Countries

EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

Associated countries to Horizon Europe: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, Tunisia, United Kingdom, and Ukraine.