MSCA IF

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowships (MSCA-IF), a strong commitment to the mobility of excellent researchers

The aim of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowships (MSCA IF) is to improve the creative and innovative potential of experienced researchers (researchers who have completed their doctorate or who can demonstrate more than 4 years of full-time research experience), by means of individual projects, encouraging international and cross sector mobility, in universities, research centres, research infrastructures, businesses, SMEs and other socioeconomic groups in Europe and further afield. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowships will be open until the 12th September 2018.

The grants are very well endowed economically speaking and are requested by the researchers along with the host institutions in which they will carry out their research activity.

Applicants to the Individual Fellowships must make their application in one of the 8 proposed scientific areas: Chemistry, Social Sciences and Humanities, Economic Science, Engineering, Information Science, Geosciences and Environmental Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physics.

The individual Fellowships have two categories for participation which differ in the rules regarding mobility: the European Fellowships (EF) and the Global Fellowships (GF). The differences will be outlined below.

 

The European Fellowships (IF European), promoting mobility within the European Union

The projects last between 1 and 2 years and the applicants must have either completed their doctorate or have 4 years full-time research experience at the closing date of the call.

They are aimed at promoting mobility within the member states of the European Union or associated countries, which is a great opportunity for those excellent researchers who have left their native countries to return home, whether they are part of the European Union or not.

The European Fellowships have various multidisciplinary panels which offer different possibilities to researchers:

Standard European Fellowships – EF-ST

These fellowships are for experienced researchers who have not lived or worked in the country for more than 12 months in the past 3 years up to the close of the call and who want to carry out their research work in any member state of the European Union or associated country.

CAR – Career Restart Panel

They aim to support researchers who want to restart their careers in Europe after a period of inactivity, for example after maternity/paternity leave, period of research abroad etc… In this case, the researcher must not have lived or worked in the country for more than 36 months in the 5 years preceding closure of the call. Furthermore, he/she must not have carried out any research work in the 12 months before the closure of the call (14/9/17).

RI – Reintegration Panel

The aim is to facilitate the return and reintegration of researchers who are working in countries that are not member states or associated countries of the European Union to a more permanent post in Europe. The condition for these applicants is that they must have the nationality of an EU member state or associated country, or have carried out their research activity in a member state or associated country for at least five consecutive years.

Society & Enterprise Panel (EF-SE):

This is a multidisciplinary panel aimed at researchers who want to carry out their work in non-academic organisations in European member states or associated countries. The condition of these fellowships is they must not have lived or worked in the country for more than 36 months in the 5 years preceding closure of the call.

 

The Global Fellowships (IF Global), promoting international mobility

The Global Fellowships (IF Global) promote mobility outside the European Union and have an obligatory return phase to Europe. The projects last from 1 to 2 years, with an additional year for the return phase to the EU member state or associated country benefiting from the grant.

For these grants, the researcher based in an EU member state or associated country, must not have lived, studied or worked in the country in which he/she is going to carry out his research.

The first phase of the project must be carried out in a country which does not belong to the EU nor is an associated country, and in a partner organization.  The second “return” phase, must take place in the country of the host institution.

 

The function of host institutions. “The UDC, a host institution at researchers’ service”

The host institutions are responsible for hiring, supervising and training the researchers and must be located in an EU member state or associated country. As we pointed out at the beginning, they are responsible for signing the Grant Agreement with the European Commission and receive funding from this entity.

The UDC, a host institution at researchers’ service


What does the Individual Fellowships funding cover?

The two Individual Fellowships categories, both the European Fellowship and the Global Fellowships cover the following expenses for researchers:

 What does the Individual Fellowships funding cover

• Living costs, with an amount of €4.650 per month which is adjusted according to a country correction coefficient depending on the cost of living in the country where the beneficiary is located, for example in Spain the coefficient is 97.6%.

• Travel expenses, a fixed amount of €600

• Family expenses, a fixed amount of €500

With regard to the institutions, they receive €800 on a monthly basis for every researchers they host, to cover costs of research activity and the practical activities carried out by the researchers. Furthermore, they receive €650 for maintenance costs and indirect action costs.

Possibility of transfers to EU member states or associated countries during the Individual Fellowships.

During the Individual Fellowships, the researchers may be transferred temporarily from their host institution to another organisation in an EU member state or associated country.

The maximum duration of these stays is subject to the total duration of the Individual Fellowships, so for grants that last for less than 18 months, the maximum period of the transfer will be 3 months, and those which last for more than 18 months the maximum period will be 6 months.

In the case of Global Fellowships, the temporary transfers will only be valid during the first phase of the grant.

You will find the complete call at the following link