The aim of STSMs in COSY is to promote the exchange of knowledge, and to support the Action’s scientific objectives. STSMs allow scientists, especially Young Researchers and Innovators (YRIs, up to 40 years of age), to visit an active research group in another country participating in COSY in order to foster collaboration, share knowledge, learn a new technique, and undertake research of common interest.

The minimum period for an STSM is 1 week (5 working days). Financial requests are expected to be limited up to 400 EUR for travel expenses (justified exceptions will be considered). The daily subsistence rate should be up to 185 EUR per day, depending on the host country (see below for a list of recommended daily rates). The maximum duration is not limited; however, both the start and end dates of an STSM have to fall into the same Grant Period (the current GP is 1/11/2022 – 31/10/2023). A maximum amount of 4000 EUR in total may be requested. An average STSM grant is estimated to be around 2000 EUR. Please note that grants are paid by the Grant Holder after the completion of the activity and approval of the final report. Applicants from an Inclusiveness Targeted Countries (ITC) can request a pre-payment of 50% of the total grant.

Applications may be submitted throughout the year, and will be reviewed at the end of the month in which they are received; the process should be started in such a way that the review will take place at least eight weeks before the STSM is supposed to start. The decision will be sent to the applicant at least four weeks before the STSM starts.

An important criterium on which the evaluation of the application will depend is the compatibility of the objectives of the planned STSM with the objectives of COSY itself as well as with goals of the Grant Period, as published in the website. In the case of several applicants of comparable qualification, preference will be given to members of ITC countries, young researchers (YRIs) and female researchers.

Application procedure. To apply for a STSM grant within COSY, please go through the following procedure:

Step 1 – Contact the STSM coordinator (Dr. Heribert Reis: hreis@eie.gr) with a CC to the Grant Awarding Coordinator, Dr. Marina Šekutor (Marina.Sekutor@irb.hr) to inquire about the availability of funding.

Step 2 – If funding is available, login to the on-line registration tool to register the request for an STSM (https://e-services.cost.eu/activity/grants). You may need to register and to upload your CV.

Information required on the on-line registration form:

• The Action number (CA21101);
• The title of the planned STSM;
• Start and end date (both inside the active Grant Period);
• Budget requested for travel and subsistence;
• Bank details;
• Information about the host institution and contact person;
• Upload the application form (template available on the site), which describes the goals, work plan, expected outcomes, contributions to the objectives of the COSY action;
• Letter of acceptance by the host institution.

Step 3 – The application is assessed by the Grant Holding Coordinator and the STSM coordinator.

Step 4 – The STSM coordinator seeks approval regarding his decision from the STSM review committee (RC). The RC consists of the STSM coordinator (Dr. Heribert Reis), Dr. Miroslav Medved (University of Banska Bystrica, Slovakia and Olomouc, Czech Republic), Dr. Aggelos Avramopoulos (University of Lamia, Greece), Dr. Anna Kaczmarek-Kędziera (University of Torun, Poland) and the appropriate WG leader.

Step 5 – Cost Office Acceptance Letter (Grant Letter)

If the application is successful, the Grant Holder (GH) sends an Acceptance letter to the Applicant, in which the Applicant is informed about the approval of the STSM and the level of financial support awarded.

After the STSM

Within 4 weeks after the completion of the STSM, the grantee is required to submit to the host institution, and, through the online e-cost service, the Grant Awarding Coordinator a scientific report about the purpose, main achievements, future plans and any foreseen publications of the STSM (up to three pages), as well as a confirmation of successful completion of the STSM by the Host. In addition, the report should indicate to which deliverable and/or objective of COSY itself as well as those of the current Grant Period the work performed during the STSM belongs. All deliverables and objectives targeted by COSY are published on the website of COSY. After approval by the STSM coordinator and the STSM RC of the final report the Grant Holder will transfer the outstanding amount of the grant.

The grantee must acknowledge support received from COSY in all publications resulting from the STSM. Any publications are strongly encouraged to be Open Access, for example in ‘Open Research Europe’, for which the publication costs can be covered by COST.

For further details please contact the STSM coordinator (Dr. Heribert Reis: hreis@eie.gr). You may also consult the official guide at https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2021/12/Grant-Awarding-userguide.pdf.

Recommended daily allowance rates for the calculation of travel grants for STSMs.