Short-Term Scientific Missions

COST Actions can provide grants for scientific missions (exchange visits) aimed at strengthening the existing network by allowing scientists to go to an institution or laboratory in another COST country to foster collaboration, to learn a new technique or to take measurements using instruments and/or methods not available in their own institution/laboratory.

STSMs (Short-Term Scientific Missions) are particularly, but not exclusively, intended for young scientists. Missions can last from 5 days up to 3 months and the grant finances fixed allowances for travel (300 €) and daily accommodation (60 to 90 € per day) for a maximum of 2500 € in total. For ESR (Early Stage Researcher), the COST Office may approve an extension of the duration and budget.

STSMs allow scientists to learn from an institution or laboratory in another COST country. We encourage all potential applicants to consider the objectives of COST FP1006 and to apply according to the guidelines listed below.

The applicant must register online at https://e-services.cost.eu/w3/index.php?id=91 and send his/her application supported by CV, letter of motivation and acceptance letter from the host institution (the applicant is responsible for obtaining the agreement of the host institution before submitting his application) by e-mail to the STSM coordinator, with copy to the host.

After completion of the STSM the applicant is required to submit (to the Host and MC chair) a short scientific report on the visit within 4 weeks after his stay.

For more details, please see COST Vademecum Part 1.

STSM Coordinator:
Marion Noel


Please note:
The call for STSM is closed now due to the ending of the 4th Grant Period of COST Action FP1006!

Reciprocal Short Term Scientific Missions

New RSTSM process

The COST Office management has instituted some new requirements with regard to Reciprocal Short Term Scientific Missions (RSTSMs). When forwarding the RSTSM application and statement of support on behalf of the Action to the COST Office the Action Chair/ STSM Coordinator must also answer the following questions:

Summary:

  • Information about the Applicant (a postgraduate student, a postdoctoral fellow, employed or officially affiliated to an institution or legal entity in a country that is participating in the Action)
  • Scope of the RSTSM (How does it fit into the Action's objectives and timing)
  • Full Work Plan (Is it detailed enough? Does it fit into the RSTMS’ objectives?)
  • Justification for the selected host institution (Why this particular workplace, laboratory, department out of Europe has been selected)
  • How the output of the RSTSM will foster knowledge creation and exchange between scientists in the COST Action and a host institution in IPC

In order to enable RSTSM applications to be reviewed in a timely manner this necessary information has to be provided.

Find more about Reciprocal Agreements:
-> Link