Researchers from all nationalities can apply for the IberusExperience programme if they fulfill the following eligibility criteria.
- The researcher must be an Experienced Researcher, meaning that they must be holding a PhD degree before the application deadline.
Periods of inactivity in research (e.g. unemployment, periods of employment outside research, parental or long-term sick leave) do not count as research experience.
- The researcher must comply with the mobility rule of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions: not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the call deadline.
Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status (under the 1951 Geneva Convention and the 1967 Protocol) are not taken into account.
Short stays are characterised by the type of activity rather than by a specific number of days.
A period can only be considered as a short stay if the researcher did not reside or did not have their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country during that period (such as holidays or participation to conferences).
Special cases for the mobility rule:
Researchers coming from a career break in research, i.e. they were not active in research for a continuous period of at least 12 months within the 18 months immediately prior to the call deadline. The mobility rule in this special case is to not have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for more than 3 years in the last 5 years immediately before the call deadline. The professional status confirming the eligibility needs to be duly justified with contracts and official documents of the unemployment services.
Active in research means being employed or holding a scholarship in research. Parental leaves and unpaid leaves of absence will not be counted as periods of active engagement in research, even if a formal employment relationship exists during these periods. Publications or mere association to a university or any other link to the university that is not considered as an employment contract or a fellowship agreement, are not considered as periods of active engagement in research.
Example of mere association: the researcher is allowed to use the facilities of the university, he/she is sent to a conference by or on behalf of the university or is enrolled in a bachelor’s/master’s or other non-research related degree at the university.
Researchers reintegration in Europe, they must be nationals or long-term residents of a EU country and moving from outside Europe to Spain. The mobility rule in this special case is to not have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for more than 3 years in the last 5 years immediately before the call deadline.
| Researcher’s case | NATIONALITY requirements | MOBILITY RULE | OTHER REQUIREMENTS |
| Standard | None | Not reside or carried out their main activity in Spain form more than 12 months in the last 3 years | None |
| Career Restart | None | Not reside or carried out their main activity in Spain form more than 3 years in the last 5 years | Not active in research for at least 12 months in the last 18 months. |
| Reintegration | Nationals or long-term residents of EU Member State or Associated Countries | Not reside or carried out their main activity in Spain form more than 3 years in the last 5 years | Moving directly from a Third Country (non EU Member State or Associated Country) |
Researchers who are refugees in a member state or associated country in Europe (under the 1951 Geneva Convention and the 1967 Protocol) are encouraged to apply, irrespective of whether they are long-term residents or not, if they fulfil the other eligibility conditions.
