PF: For Doctoral Networks it is specified that the secondment costs must be reimbursed for secondments of six months or less, but a duration is not specified for Postdoctoral Fellowships. Does it mean that in PF it is mandatory to reimburse secondments costs whatever the duration?

For MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, the costs related to secondments, non-academic placements (NAP), and - where applicable - the outgoing phase of Global Fellowships (e.g. researcher travel costs, course or conference attendance expenses, etc.) must be covered by the Research, Training and Networking (RTN) contribution, provided that these activities are eligible, foreseen in the Grant Agreement, and carried out within the allowed duration.

Consequently, there is no flexibility to exclude or withhold reimbursement of such costs solely on the basis of their duration, as long as the activities comply with the maximum lengths set out in the Work Programme and are included in the Grant Agreement (Description of Action). The absence of a specific duration limit for Postdoctoral Fellowships in the MSCA Financial guide should therefore be understood as allowing coverage for the full eligible period, rather than implying that reimbursement is optional.

PF: Which unit contribution covers the secondments costs in a Postdoctoral Fellowship?

On p. 36 of the MSCA Financial guide, it is written that:

“The research, training and networking contribution covers costs related to the training and research expenses of researchers/staff members as well as costs related to the transfer of knowledge and networking activities (e.g. costs for participation in conferences, trips related to work on the action, training or language courses, seminars, lab material, books, library records, publication costs, visa-related fees, even if incurred before the recruitment date) as well as:

− MSCA-DN: additional costs arising from each secondment of six months or less, which requires mobility from the place of residence (e.g. travel and accommodation costs)

− MSCA-PF: additional costs arising from secondments, non-academic placements and outgoing phase in MSCA-PF GF.”