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Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)

Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) serve as a valuable mechanism to promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and skill development among researchers from different countries.

2nd call of applications for STSM

Open call – 8th April 2024
Deadline for applications – 10th May
Deadline for acceptance notice – 17th May

Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are exchange visits aimed at supporting individual mobility and training of researchers and innovators through general activities of Working Groups. These visits should take place in a host organization located in a different country than the country of affiliation.

STSM applicants must be enrolled in an official research programme as a PhD Student or postdoctoral fellow (completion of their PhD within the last eight years). An STSM ought to support the scientific advancement of the FLAVOURsome COST Action while simultaneously providing participants with access to unique data, instruments, and methodologies that are unavailable within their own institutions and enabling them to acquire new skills. Senior researchers and principal investigators may also apply to STSMs in order to create new scientific partnerships and draft funding proposals.

Only participants in the Action who have their primary connection with a legal organization situated in a European RTD Organization, a COST Near Neighbour Country, or a COST Full or Cooperating Member country are eligible to apply.

Each year, a small number of STSMs will be granted for technology transfer and training across laboratories in various member nations enrolled in the Action, as specified by the COST framework rules. It is recommended that the last day of the short-term scientific mission be no later than 30th September to guarantee the reimbursement within each grant period.

The STSM are exclusive for active members of the FLAVOURsome COST Action enrolled in one or more working groups (Apply here to join if you are not a member of our Action yet).

A minimum of five working days (=one week), and a maximum of three months are allowed for STSMs.

The financial support is a contribution to the costs of a STSM; it may not necessarily cover all the costs in each case. The grant should cover only travel expenses and daily subsistence. Generally, an STSM may not exceed 2500 euros in total up to three months.

A maximum of 400 euros for travel is recommended but not obligatory.

Maximum subsistence depends on the host country (we use country correction coefficients – CCC) provided by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action, Horizon Europe work programme and the duration of the visit.

The base level of subsistence rates is:

First 5 days (X) – 80 EUR per day

From day 6 to day 15 (Y) – 40 EUR per day

From day 16 forward (Z) – 20 EUR per day

To calculate the final amount, use the following formula:

Final amount = [CCC x [(Xx80) + (Yx40) + (Zx20)]] + Travel

Applications are collected after the application deadline and evaluated considering the following:

  • Budget: A maximum of 80% of the yearly STSM budget may be spent on a single call for application. Where necessary, applications will be ranked accordingly.
  • Involvement in the Action: Both the sending (supervisor) and hosting lab (host contact person) shall be actively involved in FLAVOURsome Action, i.e., listed as MC or WG members on the COST website.
  • Relevance to current WG activities: The application must clearly demonstrate the links to WG goals and activities for the budget period.
  • Repetitive applications: Applications by the same individual to visit the same lab may be discarded unless properly justified.

The Evaluation Committee will discard applications failing any of the above policies even in the presence of remaining funds.

Step 1 – Complete electronic application form here.

  • Title;
  • Start and end date (within the active Grant Period);
  • Budget requested by the applicant;
  • Information about the host institution and contact person.

Step 2 – upload to e-COST supporting documents:

  • Application form 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 (Completed form here)
  • Applicant must upload their CV in e-COST profile
  • Confirmation of the host on the agreement from the host institution in receiving the applicant;
  • Supporting letter from the supervisor (only applicable for YRIs)
  • Motivation letter

Within 2 weeks after the end of the call, the Evaluation Committee will make the assessment and the Grant Award and STSM Coordinators will inform the Grant Holder and the selected applicant(s).

The Grant Holder will send to the applicant an acceptance letter with information on the approval of the proposal and the level of the financial grant given. If the final terms of the grant are accepted, the applicant must return the acceptance letter with a signature.

Between 1 day and 10 days after the end of the STSM, the grantee receives a reminder to upload the report. The grantee must complete the report template (https://www.cost.eu/STSM_Report), upload, and submit it in the e-COST.

The reporting and claim for payment must be submitted within 30 days after the end date of the activity and no later than 15 days of the grant period’s completion, or within a shorter period requested by the grant holder or grant awarding coordinator in order to meet reporting and/or reimbursement requirements.

Presentations at Conferences

This kind of grants are aimed at promoting the visibility, impact, and dissemination of the Action’s scientific outcomes. The grants support researchers in presenting their work at conferences, workshops, or seminars, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas within and beyond the COST network. There are two types of grants:

  • ITC Conference Grants specifically aim to enhance the participation of researchers from Inclusiveness Target Countries, ensuring a broader and more diverse representation in international scientific events;
  • Dissemination Grants, on the other hand, focus on promoting the broader communication of the Action’s achievements, extending the impact of the research to a wider audience.

These grants align with the COST Action’s goals of fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the advancement of scientific priorities, contributing to the overall success and effectiveness of the Action.

ITC Conference Grants (ITC CG)

1st call of applications for ITC CG

Open call – Now open
Deadline for applications – 10th May
Deadline for acceptance notice – 17th May

The main goal of ITC Conference Grants (ITC CGs) is to provide financial support for PhD students and Young Researchers (YR) from participating Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs) and Near Neighbour Country (NNC) to attend international scientific and technological conferences that are not specifically organised by the COST Action.

Participants in FLAVOURsome Action, who have their principal affiliation with a legal body situated in an ITC or NNC, are eligible to apply.

A number of ITC conference grants will be financed each year as defined by the rules of the COST framework and depending on the allocated budget for ITC CGs. Applications are accepted from researchers aiming to disseminate research work related with FLAVOURsome COST Action scientific topics.

The ITC CG are exclusive for young researchers and innovators from ITC and NNC who are actively enrolled in one or more working groups of the FLAVOURsome COST Action (Apply here to join if you are not a member of our Action yet).

The applicant should be listed in the official event/conference program to deliver an oral/poster presentation. The main subject of the oral presentation/poster presentation must be on the topics of the Action and must acknowledge COST. Attendance at European conferences is preferred. However, conferences held elsewhere can also be considered.

After the application deadline, the applications will be evaluated considering the following points:

  • Budget: One call for applications may use up to 80% of the annual ITC-CG budget. Applications will be ranked appropriately when needed.
  • Participation in the Action: The applicant and the hosting lab shall be listed as MC or WG members and actively participate in FLAVOURsome activities.
  • Relevance to the WG activities: The application must clearly demonstrate the links to WG goals and activities.
  • High-level events: European high-profile scientific events will be strongly preferred. Justification for relevance to FLAVOURsome Action is required.
  • Repetitive applications: Successive applications by the same individual will be discarded, unless properly justified.

The Evaluation Committee will discard applications failing any of the above points, even in the presence of remaining funds.

Step 1 – Complete electronic application form here.

  • Title
  • Start and end date of the conference (within the active Grant Period);
  • Budget requested by the applicant;
  • Information about the conference and contribution type (type of presentation and authors list).

Step 2 – upload to e-COST the supporting documents:

  • ITC Conference grant application
  • Copy of the abstract of the accepted oral or poster presentation
  • Acceptance letter from the conference organizers
  • Supporting letter from the host lab (supervisor)
  • Justification for the budget (travel expenses, accommodation, and registration fee)

Within 2 weeks after the end of the call, the Evaluation Committee will make the assessment and the Grant Award Coordinator will inform the Grant Holder and the selected applicant(s).

The Grant Holder will send to the Applicant an acceptance letter in which s/he is informed about the approval of the proposal and the level of the financial grant given. The Applicant must return this acceptance letter, after accepting the grant with his/her signature.

Between 1 day and 10 days after the end of the conference, the grantee receives a reminder to upload the report. The reporting and claim for payment must be submitted within 30 days after the end date of the activity and no later than 15 days before the grant period’s completion, or within a shorter period requested by the grant holder or grant awarding coordinator in order to meet reporting and/or reimbursement requirements.

The grantee must complete the report template, upload, and submit it in e-COST along with additional supporting documents:

  • Certificate of attendance signed by the conference organizers
  • Programme of the conference or book of abstracts/proceedings with the presentation (oral or poster)
  • Copy of the given presentation (oral or poster)