Short Term Scientific Missions Call 1/2020-21 - OPEN CALL for Year 4!
Deadline: September 1st 2021, (Midnight, Brussels Time) for proposed STSM to end before the 10th of September 2021
Please read this call carefully as there are some important changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
STSM Committee
- Prof. Luigina Ciolfi (Chair)
- Prof. Sergio Nasarre-Aznar
- Dr. Vasilis Kostakis
What Are STSMs?
Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are exchange visits aimed at supporting researchers’ individual mobility, strengthening existing networks and fostering collaboration. STSMs are intended especially, but not solely, for young researchers.
An STSM should specifically contribute to the scientific objectives of the COST Action “Sharing And Caring”, while enabling those partaking in the missions to establish new partnerships, learn new techniques, gain access to specific data, instruments and / or methods not available in their own institutions / organisations.
Applying for a STSM during the Covid19 Pandemic
The application must describe how the activities proposed to take place during the STSM can be safely conducted according to current international health and safety recommendations. In light of this, we recommend that activities only involve few people (i.e. no large gatherings), and are to be conducted either outdoors or in indoor spaces that are large enough to enable social distancing. Please note that:
- The letter from the Host Organisation must confirm that the Host Institution is able to accept visitors under their anti-Covid19 health and safety policy and it must specify that the proposed activities can safely take place on their premises and that social distancing rules and prevention measures are in place.
- The letter from the Home Institution must confirm that travel for its staff is allowed under their anti-Covid19 health and safety policy
- Both the Host and Home Institutions commit to update their endorsement closer to the travel date upon request*
See the “How can you apply?” section for further details.
Who can apply?
STSMs are open for PhDs, PostDocs, and advanced career researchers employed at institutions in countries participating in “Sharing AndCaring”, or at approved institutions. STSMs must be performed between COST countries - researchers cannot apply for an STSM within their own country.
Priority will be given to Early Career Investigators (ECI) (maximum 8 years since obtaining their PhD at the time of application) and PhD students working on socio-technical aspects of the collaborative economy.
Particular consideration will also be given to candidates moving from/to COST Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs), which include Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Serbia and Turkey.
International COST participants may host STSM researchers from European COST countries but may not apply for STSMs themselves.
Awards throughout the annual grant period (for the third year: 1st May 2020- 23rd March 2021) will be made to support scientific excellence, and to support a variety of researchers in terms of gender, career stage, affiliation, and nationality.
What can you apply for?
You can apply for a short term scientific mission of the duration between 5 and 90 days (and up to 180 days if the applicant is an ECI) to take place before March 10th 2021. The STSM will be a fixed grant to cover part of the travel expenses and living allowance. The cost of research materials is not eligible for consideration as part of the grant.
Please note that the awarded grant will be paid only after the STSM has been completed – therefore the applicant must have approval and prior financial support e.g., from their own institution.
The following funding conditions apply and must be respected:
● up to a max of EUR2500 in total can be afforded to each successful STSM applicant;
● up to a max of EUR160 per day can be afforded for accommodation & meal expenses;
● for ECIs, a max amount of EUR3500 can be afforded to the Grantee for STSMs with a duration of between 91 & 180 days – For ECIs partaking in STSMs with a duration of between 5 & 90 days, the limit is EUR2500; STSM activities must occur in their entirety within the dates specified in this call.
STSM awards may be combined with other funding sources, but these must be acknowledged in the application.
In your application, you will have to describe the goal of the proposed STSM, how it contributes to the scientific remit of the COST Action “Sharing And Caring”, the planned expenses and the outputs planned as result of the STSM. For ECIs, two support letters by advanced career researchers will be required.
For detailed rules regarding eligibility and financial support, please see the relevant sections of the COST Vademecum (http://www.cost.eu/download/COSTVademecum).
