PF: In some countries in order to have an adequate social security coverage, the fellow needs to end their contract with at least one month in the country of their employment contract and thus such fellows cannot have a non-academic placement (NAP) or go on a secondment in another country. What can be done in these cases?

The NAP can take place in the same country as the beneficiary, but in the non-academic sector. A good planning and thorough discussion between the researcher and beneficiary prior to submission of the proposal would clarify these issues. The beneficiary can also extend the contract with their own funds after the end of the Postdoctoral Fellowship.

The timing of secondments is more flexible, as long as the activities in the Annex 1 – i.e. those already evaluated by independent experts – are fulfilled.

 

SE: Can a project manager of a Staff Exchanges project be sent on a secondment in their project manager role?

If they are involved in R&I activities at the institution and in the project, they can go on secondment. If the activities foreseen are purely administrative, the secondment is not eligible. The activities carried out in a Staff Exchange secondment should always be R&I-related.

SE: Does a seconded person need to physically be at the secondment organisation for a full month for it to be eligible? Can they go to a conference in another country during this time?

Secondments are aimed at ensuring transfer of knowledge between two organisations through the implementation of the research and innovation activities established in the Annex 1 of the Grant Agreement.

Therefore, the participation in a conference is eligible for funding only if it is ancillary to an ongoing eligible secondment and only if it forms an integral part of the training and transfer of knowledge activities planned for this secondment.

As the duration for participation in a conference is limited to 1-2 days, it can be accepted as part of the ongoing secondment if it is in the country of the institution hosting the secondment or in another country.

SE: Can the categories of seconded personnel be changed during the implementation of the project without an amendment?

It is difficult to change the categories of seconded personnel during implementation. The Project Officer should be consulted.

PF: Do secondments have to comply with the mobility rule?

Secondments do not have to comply with the mobility rule; the mobility rule is applicable only to the country of the host organisation (beneficiary).

PF: What is the difference between a short visit, secondment, fieldwork and non-academic placement?

Non-Academic placement, the NAP, is an addition of up to six months to the grant, taking place at a non-academic host, after the normal duration of the project, in an Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. There is an additional budget for the NAP and the project duration is therefore up to 30 months for European Fellowships and 42 months for Global Fellowships. There should be a dedicated supervisor.

See pages37-38 of Work Programme 2023-2025, “The request for such a non-academic placement must be an integral part of the proposal, explaining the added value for the project and for the career development of the researcher, and will be subject to evaluation.”

Secondments can take place in any country of the world during any period of an European Fellowship or the outgoing phase of a Global Fellowship up to a total of 1/3 of the duration of the aforementioned periods. It can be composed of single duration or multiple shorter ones. There is no additional budget for secondments. The secondment hosts are also identified in the proposal as are the secondment supervisors.

Short visits and fieldwork (e.g. in archaeology, journalism) are activities performed by the researcher taking place outside the premises of the beneficiary that are considered less permanent in nature than secondments and of shorter duration. The researcher continues to be mentored by the supervisor at the host institution, and there is no additional budget for them.