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.