How to receive a STSM Grant?

  • STSM Applicants must be engaged in an official research programme as e.g. a PhD student or postdoctoral fellow or can be employed by an Institution which has within its remit a clear association with performing research.
  • Only institutions from participating countries in MINEA can send/host researchers. European Institutions are always included regardless the location.
  • Mobility between different countries is mandatory.
  • For (and only for) Early Career Investigators (ECI, PhD degree within the last 8 years), the exchange must have a minimum duration of 5 days and a maximum duration of 180 days.
  • For other researchers, the exchange must have a minimum duration of 5 working days and maximum duration of 90 days.
  • The research stay at the hosting organization must be carried out between the beginning of May and mid April of next year.
  • Special target groups are encouraged to apply for a STSM Grant: Early Career Investigators, female candidates and candidates from Inclusiveness Target Countries 
  • Specific rules for funding:
  1. EachSTSM Grant isa flat rateand documentation of real costs (e.g. with receipts) is not needed. The flat ratemightnot cover all expenses from the research visit. The STSM applicant should accept this statement before submitting the application.
  2. The applicant is encouraged to apply for additional funding in home or host institutions, as well as in national or European research bodies. There are not incompatibilities with the COST Grant. However, we cannot pay specific costs that have been previously covered by other bodies (e.g. specific travel receipt).
  3. The payment to the STSM Grantee is done after the approval of the Final Scientific Report.

  1. The submitted STSM application form from the e-COST system (Note: The document can be downloaded when the online application is submitted).
  2. A letter of invitation from a senior Researcher affiliated to the Host Institution (the supervisor-to-be).Template download from link.
  3. The application form. Template download from link.
  4. A short C.V. including relevant merits to the STSM Project (max two A4 pages).
  5. For PhD students only: a letter of support from your supervisor in the Home Institution.

The STMS Grant resolution will be communicated to the Applicant and the Host Institution via E-Mail from the STSM Coordinator Pedro Haro. The decision will be carried out once per each Grant Period for all open STSMs. In the resolution the following information will appear:

  • Name of candidate (including ID number) and Home Institution.
  • Name of the Host Institution.
  • Name and position of the supervisor during the STSM.
  • The department/institute where the candidate will conduct his/her research.
  • The period granted and dates for starting and ending.
  • The maximum amount of money granted (for travel / daily expenses).

After the STSM, the beneficiary of the STSM Grant has to write a Final Scientific Report. The Final Scientific Report will contain a summary of all relevant scientific results from the stay and all deviations from the original proposal. Deviations are always expected but the candidate should make clear that the quality of the work done has not been compromised. The Final Scientific Report should be approved by the supervisor of the STSM in the Host Institution, as indicated in the resolution of STSM Grant. The Host Institution will keep a copy of the document.

The candidate must sign and submit the Final Scientific Report (within one month of the visit) to the Action Chair Ulrich Kral, the STSM Coordinator Pedro Haro and the Host Institution for the STSM via E-Mail.

The Final Scientific Report needs a MINEA Core Group  approval.

After the approval, the payment of the grant goes from the MINEA Grant Holder Claudia Klapproth to the STSM Grantee. Note: The bank details of the Grantee are included in the e-COST profile.

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