Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM)

The aim of a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) shall be to contribute to the scientific objectives of a COST Action.

These Missions (Exchange Visits) are aimed at strengthening the existing networks 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. They are particularly intended for young scientists.

The Applicant should normally be engaged in a programme of research as a post graduate student or postdoctoral fellow or be employed in an institution of a COST Country having accepted the MoU of the Action. This institution should be actively participating in the COST Action.

Short-Term Scientific Missions, minimum one week (5 working days), maximum 3 months, shall be made within the time frame of the operation identified in the proposal and within the period of the respective COST Action.

For Early Stage Researchers (less than PhD + 10 years) the COST Office may approve an extension to a duration beyond 3 months, but normally not more than 6 months in total. In these cases, financial support can be increased to normally maximum EUR 3 500.

The proposal should be submitted to the COST Action STSM coordinator and will be evaluated by the STSM evaluators.

The rules how to submit a proposal are explained in the COST Guidelines Chapter 3