Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM)

Call for Short-term scientific missions (STSMs)

A call for STSMs is currently open until 30/06/2025, for STSMs taking place from 01/01/2025 to 31/10/2025. The call will be extended if the budget allocated for STSMs in this Grant Period of the project is not entirely spent.

Responsible

Miklós Veres (veres.miklos@wigner.hun-ren.hu)

What is STSM?

Short-term scientific mission (STSM) is an exchange visit between researchers involved in a COST Action. STSM is a great opportunity for researchers to share techniques and gain skills that may not be available at their home institution or laboratory.

An STSM consists of a visit of a host organization located in a different country than the country of affiliation by a Researcher or Innovator for specific work to be carried out and for a determined period of time.

STSM grant benefits to:

  • STSM Grantee: receives funding for implementing a project with an international team and gains new knowledge or access to equipment or techniques not available in the home institution;
  • STSM Host: receives an international partner in their institution and can develop long-lasting collaboration.

The start and end date of a STSM must be within the active Grant Period of the Action. Their aim is to foster collaboration in excellent research infrastructures and share new techniques that may not be available in a participant’s home institution or laboratory.

More information can be found in Annex 2 of the Annotated Rules for COST Actions.

Funding Scheme

The STSM grant provides a contribution for travel, accommodation, and subsistence expenses, implementation of the project, delivery of the report to the COST Action MC and overall effort. The grant is decided by the Action MC or Core Group on the proposal of the evaluators, based on the request of the applicant, and should reflect the duration and location of the STSM.

The maximum amount of the STSM grant is EUR 4,000. Upon approval of the Grant, the Action MC can decide to lower the requested grant.

Eligibility

Eligible individuals to apply for an STSM grant must be affiliated to a legal entity in

  • a COST Full Member state
  • COST Cooperating Member (Israel)
  • COST Partner Member (South Africa), with the grant being funded by the Partner Member
  • a Near Neighbouring Country
  • a specific organization among EU Institutions, Bodies, Offices and Agencies, with the grant being funded by the organization,
  • a European RTD Organisation.

A complete definition of the terms used above is given in the document Country and organisations table.

The affiliation of an individual or a legal entity is determined as per Article 4.1.1.1.1 of the Annotated rules for COST Actions.

Application

Calls for Short Term Scientific Missions applications are periodically shared amongst the participants of the COST Action. In response to a call, the STSM grant application shall be submitted online in e-COST using dedicated forms:

https://e-services.cost.eu/activity/grants/add.

Information to be provided in the application:

To be filled in e-COST:

  • Title;
  • Start and end date (within the active Grant Period, i.e. no overlap across two consecutive Grant Periods);
  • Budget requested by the applicant;
  • Information about the host institution and contact person. Location of host institution must be in a different country than the country of affiliation of the applicant;

To be uploaded to e-COST:

  • Application form (template available on e-COST) describing: Goals, description of the work to be carried out by the applicant, expected outcomes and description of the contribution to the Action MoU objectives;
  • Confirmation of the host on the agreement from the host institution in receiving the applicant;
  • CV of the applicant;
  • Other documents required by the Action (e.g. recommendation letter, etc).

The above information will be visible to the holders of leadership positions and any evaluation committees in the Action for evaluation purposes.

The following documents must also be e-mailed to the responsible for STSM, Dr. Miklós Veres (veres.miklos@wigner.hun-ren.hu):

  • document generated by e-COST,
  • a letter of invitation from a researcher affiliated with the Host institution,
  • a motivation letter including a work plan detailing the proposed activities,
  • a support letter from the Home Institution,
  • a CV, including a list of academic publications if applicable.

Applications must be eligible (see Annex 2 of the Annotated Rules for COST Actions ) and in line with the Action research topics.

The applications will be ranked by the STSM responsible together with the WG leaders based on

  • scientific quality,
  • feasibility of the approach proposed,
  • benefit to the development of the COST Action.

The selection will follow the COST policies on inclusiveness (gender, age, geography).

The final ranking will be approved by the Action Chair and Co-Chair. The researchers who applied to the call will receive the results of the selection from the STSM responsible.

The selected researchers should wait for the official invitation from the Grant Holder before booking any travel arrangements.

Implementation

  • Upon approval of the application, the Grantee receives a Grant Letter from the Grant Holder stating the approved amount and the conditions for receiving the grant.
  • The Grantee performs the tasks in line with the approved application.
  • Once the activity has ended, the grantee submits the required report (report to the Action MC on the work developed, main achievements of the STSM and planned future follow-up activities) on e-COST within 30 days after the end date of the activity or 15 days after the end of the Grant Period, whichever comes first.
  • STSMs grantees may request up to 50% pre-payment of the approved grant. This amount is subject to availability of funds and approval by the Grant Holder Institution. The request of pre-payment shall be submitted to the Grant Holder Manager.

Selection criteria and scoring

The STSM grant applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria and scoring.

Criteria Max. score, points
Relevance to the objectives of the CA23125 COST project 5
Establishing new collaboration in a field related to the COST project and attract new members to the project. 5
The STSM aims the exchange of expertise and know-how, learning of new scientific techniques and skills. 5
Scientific quality of the application and the realizability of the proposed work. 5
The application is financially justified. 5
The applicant is an early-stage researcher. 5
Threshold 20 (of max. 30)

GRANT RULES


COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.

www.cost.eu