COFUND: Would there be any financial consequences if the beneficiary is unable to complete the grant obligations because the postdoc has resigned from the Choose Europe grant?

There would not be financial consequences. The postdoc is always free to leave the contract at any time. If the postdoc ends the grant at any point, the obligations under the contract for that particular fellowship end with the fellow. If a fellow leaves during their EU-funded part of the grant, the beneficiary can be left with unspent EU funds. The question of how the funds can be used or whether they need to be returned will be examined on a case-by-case basis with REA.

In addition, if it is a standard procedure to have a probationary period after which the beneficiary reviews the performance of the postdoc, this can be done. If the performance is unsatisfactory and the beneficiary decides to proceed with contract termination following standard employment practices under national law, there would be no penalties from REA.

PF: Is it possible to split the period of the non-academic placement? For example, is it possible to indicate a first non-academic placement of two months in organisation A and then a second non-academic placement of four months in organisation B?

It is not possible to split the period of maximum six months after the fellowship. The proposal can only include one additional period of up to six months in a non-academic organisation established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country (‘non-academic placement’) at the end of the project.

PF: Is it possible for two researchers to each apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship with the same organisation, the same supervisor and in the same scientific panel?

It is possible but they have to be careful that the scope/approach/objectives of each proposal, and their implementation sections, are different. If the proposals are too similar, one of them may be considered ineligible.

PF: Is it possible that the beneficiary retains the Research, Training and Networking and Management and Indirect costs and not transfer the funding to the host of the outgoing phase in Global Fellowships?

There is no legal obligation to transfer the EU contribution related to Research, Training and Networking and Management and Indirect costs from the beneficiary to the partner organisation, as long as the recruited researcher has all the appropriate resources necessary to carry out the work as planned for the outgoing phase.

It as advisable to have all terms agreed between the beneficiary and the third country partner clearly stated in a partnership agreement.

SE: An employee with part of the working time financed from institutional sources and another part financed from national project funding will work exclusively on a MSCA Staff Exchanges project during their secondment, with no additional work commitments. Can the employee retain the salary within the total working time during the secondment?

The FTE (or the working time) is an element resulting from the national legislation.

On the one hand, the obligation included in the GA is twofold:

a)      exclusive dedication (i.e., only activities indicated in the technical annex) and

b)     full-time dedication regardless of the working time (i.e., no part-time).

If both conditions are fulfilled the secondment is in principle eligible.

On the other hand, the obligation is referring to the “research activities” of the project: this means that, as long as the staff member is dedicated full-time to these activities (those latu sensu included in the description of the project), then it is allowed.

It is the responsibility of the beneficiary to ensure that the research activities performed are consistent with the description of the Staff Exchanges project, even if (partially) funded elsewhere, provided that this will not result in double funding.

SE: Is a PhD student required to terminate a parallel employment contract during their secondment if this contract is synergic with the Staff Exchanges project they participate in?

If the activities under the employment contract are synergic with the MSCA Staff Exchanges project, the fellow could retain their current working arrangements, contract, and PhD stipend. However, if the activities under the employment contract are not synergic with the MSCA Staff Exchanges project, or if they result in double funding, then these working arrangements should be modified to ensure full commitment to the MSCA Staff Exchanges project during the secondment.

SE: Which researchers should be included in the table “Researchers involved in the proposal” on page 8 of 17 of the Staff Exchanges application form?

Applicants should include in this table the researchers who will actually work on the proposal writing, and if possible, the names of those who will participate in the project. No administrative staff should be included here.

COFUND: In COFUND Doctoral Programmes, is it a requirement for a doctoral candidate to have obtained a master’s degree by the deadline of the co-funded programme call?

As indicated in the MSCA Work Program, for COFUND Doctoral Programmes, researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the cofunded programme's call. Researchers must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.” Moreover, to be eligible, at the deadline of the co-funded programme call candidates must be in possession of a diploma allowing access to doctoral studies in the country of their application.

PF: How can the rules for the MSCA family allowance be interpreted in case of a divorced parent who has their child in joint custody?

In case of joint custody, the fellow is still eligible for family allowance.

SE: If in a Staff Exchanges project a beneficiary does not implement any of the planned outgoing mobilities, but only hosts incoming mobilities from third countries’ associated partners, would it still be considered as a beneficiary?

In the case of a running grant and until the signature of an amendment, the beneficiary will remain beneficiary. The cost claim would be set to 0 except if they host secondments from third countries eligible for funding.

At Grant Agreement preparation stage they would be moved to the role of Associated partners in the consortium.