Call for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) Grant Application

Dear Colleagues,

The STSM Grants will enable researchers and innovators to apply for grants who would like to carry out specific work in an host organization located in a different country. 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. The host organisation receives an international partner in their institution and can develop long lasting collaboration1.

Grant Awarding Criteria

Who can apply?

Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) Grants are reserved exclusively for researchers or innovators (individuals working in novel ways to enhance palliative care through education, policy or practice):

1) who are COST Action: CA22127 Participants* with a primary affiliation to a legal entity located in a COST Full or Cooperating Member country, a COST Near Neighbour Country or a European RTD Organisation**2,3,4

2) who visit  a host organization located in a different country than the country of affiliation

3) for carry out specific work

4) for a determined period of time1

 

*Action Participant3

Any person being a Management Committee member, a Management Committee Observer, a Working Group member, or an ad-hoc contributor to a COST Action.

** Annex I – Level A: Country and Organisations Table4

List of countries: https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2023/11/Annex-I-level-A-Country-and-Organisations-Table-Version-1.7.pdf

 

STSM Grant Applications should include:

1) Title of the Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM)

2) Start and end date (within the active Grant Period, i.e. no overlap across two consecutive Grant Periods)

3) Budget requested by the applicant

4) 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)

How to apply?

The applicant is obliged to create a Grant Application by logging into e-COST and clicking on the Grant Applications tab. Next, the applicant should  select the grant from the page ‘Apply for new grant’ (‘Short Term Scientific Mission’)2.

Grant application instructions for COST actions are included in Grant Awarding User guide available at: https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2025/01/COST-Grant-Awarding-user-guide.pdf

 

The following documents for the grant application are required:

  • STSM grant application (based on e-COST template) describing: goals, description of the work to be carried out by the applicant, expected outcomes and description of the contribution to the Action Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) objectives (https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA22127/)
  • Confirmation of the host on the agreement from the host institution in receiving the applicant1

 

Application timeline:

Grant applications can be submitted in an active Action Grant Period (STSM date within the active Grant Period, i.e. no overlap across two consecutive Grant Periods)1.

 

Grant application evaluation:

All grant applications will be assessed by the Core Group of the CA22127 under the formal eligibility criteria, budget plan of the CA22127, Grant Period timeline and goals, the Science Communication Plan adopted by the COST Action and expected impact on creation of new collaborations among CA22127 participants.

Detailed criteria:

– Is the STSM adding value to the work related to COST Action CA22127

– Is the STSM adding value to the networking activities relevant to the COST Action CA22127

– Is the STSM adding value to the dissemination related to COST Action CA22127

 

The amount of the grant should reflect the duration and location of the STSM. The grant cannot exceed 4000 EURO.

The Grant Awarding Coordinator coordinates the collection and evaluation the STSM Grant Applications and encodes grant approval or rejection in the eCOST.

The Core Group of the CA22127 on behalf of the Management Committee take decisions on the STSM Grant awarding/rejection.

Financial support:

We offer grants up to 4000 EURO.

STSM Grants provide a contribution for travelling, accommodation and subsistence expenses, implementation of the project, delivery of the report to the COST Action MC and overall effort.

STSM Grants can be paid after the end of the STSM and submission of the complete report/documentation, according to these conditions and the rules of the COST Association.

However, 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. Grant Holder institution inform the applicant about the necessary documents (invoices, tickets, etc) that may be exceptionally required for the reimbursement of the grant or actual expenses1.

Grant reporting

Grantee is obliged to submit the required report on the work developed, main achievements of the STSM and planned future follow up activities. The report and relevant documentation for claiming a STSM Grant should be submitted by using report template in the e-COST within 30 days after the end date of the STSM or 15 days after the end of the Grant Period, whichever date comes first1.

The Grant Awarding Coordinator verify the validity and content of the report and coordinates approval of the report. The Core Group of the CA22127 on behalf of the Management Committee take decisions on the report approval /rejection1.

Guidance for COST Association are applicable for grant application evaluation awarding. For more information, please read section “Documents for running a COST Action” at

https://www.cost.eu/funding/documents-guidelines/.

 

Sources:

  1. COST. ANNOTATED RULES FOR COST ACTIONS [Internet]. [accessed 2024 Jan 13]. www.cost.eu (https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2024/11/COST-094-21-V2.0-Annotated-Rules-for-COST-Actions-Level-C.pdf )
  2. COST. Grant Awarding user guide. (https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2025/01/COST-Grant-Awarding-user-guide.pdf )
  3. ANNEX II – LEVEL A: DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS APPLICABLE THROUGHOUT COST IMPLEMENTATION RULES GLOSSARY (https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2021/10/Annex-II-level-A-Glossary-REVISION.pdf)
  4. COST. ANNEX I-LEVEL A: COUNTRY AND ORGANISATIONS TABLE. https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2023/11/Annex-I-level-A-Country-and-Organisations-Table-Version-1.7.pdf