STSM (Short Term Scientific Mission) Rules and Procedures
List of approved and completed STSMs
STSM CALL #6
Now the call #6 is open. You're welcome to apply for STSM in accordance to the rules specified below.
e-COST STSM on-line application tool
Dates:
STSM application submission deadline: June 30, 2012
STSM acceptance notification: July 07, 2012
STSM dates (up to 3 month or 6 month for ESR): within the period from July 8, 2012 to June 30, 2013. If you want STSM beyond June 30, 2013 or start your STSM earlier than July 8, 2012, please contact WiNeMO Chair at yk@cs.tut.fi
IC0906 WiNeMO STSM Evaluation Panel
- Prof. Evgeny Osipov (Lulea University of Technology, Sweden)
- Prof Giovanni Giambene (University of Siena, Italy)
- Prof. Geert Heijenk (University of Twente, Netherlands)
- Dr. Paulo Mendes (SITI, University Lusofona, Portugal)
- Dr. Hamid Nafaa (University College Dublin, Ireland)
IC0906 WiNeMO STSM specific rules [ Source: 2nd MCM minutes, STSM Evaluation Board Meeting ]
General Information
Rules below are introduced on top of COST Vademecum (part B)
STSM duration
No flat rate, max 2,500 euros (up to 3 month or 6 month for ESR)
STSM Application should contain
- Motivation (relevance to COST IC0906 Action must be stated clearly)
- Expected deliverables (joint publication is highly desirable)
- Detailed cost estimate transportation e2e, description of housing type (100 euros flat-ratre per month without specification)
Financial reporting
By receipts only (transportation, housing)
GENERAL RULES [ Source: COST Vademecum (Part B) – Grant System ]
4.1 Objectives
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.
An Action should normally set up at least 4 STSMs per year.
4.2 The Applicant
The selection of the applicant is the responsibility of the Management Committee (MC) of the Action.
The Applicant should normally be engaged in a programme of research as a postgraduate student or postdoctoral fellow or be employed in an institution of a COST Country having accepted the MoU of the Action. This institution shall be actively participating in the COST Action.
For the period of the STSM neither the MC of the Action, the COST Office nor the Grant Holder may be considered as the employer and grantees must make their own arrangements for all health, social, personal security and pension matters.
4.3 Home and Host Institution
The home and the host institution can be public or private.
A STSM may only be approved:
- from a home institution in a COST participating country to a host institution in another COST participating country or to a formally approved host institution in a non-COST country.
- from a formally approved home institution in a Near Neighbour country to a host institution in a COST participating country.
In exceptional cases, the COST Office reserves the right to analyse the possibility of reimbursement of any person designated by itself or by the Management Committee of an Action or by a Domain Committee to further the interests and aims of COST.
Short-Term Scientific Missions between different Actions may be considered by the Management Committees of both Actions.
The Applicant is responsible for obtaining the agreement of the host institution, before submitting his/her application.
4.4 Duration
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 Action.
For Early Stage Researchers (less than PhD + 8 years) the Management Committee may approve an extension to a duration beyond 3 months, but normally not more than 6 months in total.
4.5 Financial Support
The financial support is a contribution to the costs of a STSM and may not necessarily cover all the costs in each case. The grant should normally cover only travel and subsistence.
The financial contribution for a STSM will be a fixed grant based on the Applicant's budget request and the evaluation of the application by the STSM assessment committee. An amount of EUR 60 to 90 for the daily allowance in particular for longer stays and EUR 300 for the travel is recommended but not obligatory. The total of a STSM shall normally not exceed EUR 2 500 up to 3 months (or EUR 3 500 for Early Stage Researchers – above 3 months). Any exception needs special justification and prior approval from the COST Office.
In any case the costs associated with the STSM must not exceed the limits set in the rules for reimbursement by COST of expenses for experts eligible for reimbursement (see 2. - Travel and Subsistence).
An advance payment may be made in exceptional circumstances, which will require additional special justification.
4.6 Registration and Deadlines
The Applicant must use the on-line registration tool. (see 4.10 - How to submit an application).
Applications may be submitted according to the schedules stipulated by the MC of the relevant Action, bearing in mind that delays must be taken into account for the assessment and administrative procedures. The application together with the MC approval should be sent to the Grant Holder and respect the deadline set by the Grant Holder (e.g., at least 4 weeks before the STSM starts).
4.7 Assessment
a) The MC of the Action will make the scientific and budgetary assessment and take the final
decision.
The MC may formally delegate these tasks to :
- the STSM coordinator or,
- a sub-group of its members (assessment panel), which may vary from time to time and from scheme to scheme, to assess proposals and to agree on those which may be funded.
It is recommended that this assessment panel consists of more than two people in order to avoid a conflict of interest, in addition to one person who is authorised to take the decision (normally the Chair). External advice may be sought.
MC members and other assessors should not involve themselves in the assessment of proposals in which they have a personal or financial interest. In exceptional circumstances (e.g. uniqueness of expertise), such a bar may be waived with the agreement of the other members involved, if the interest is declared and considered not to compromise the potential decision.
b) The MC should agree the criteria for assessing applications in line with the Action objectives. Wherever possible, these criteria should be made known in advance to potential applicants. It is expected that every care will be taken to avoid any bias on the grounds of gender, age or nationality.
4.8 Approval
The MC Chair or the STSM coordinator is responsible for circulating the application for decision to the assessment panel.
The MC Chair or the STSM coordinator has to inform the Grant Holder about the decision. After checking the application for the compatibility with the existing rules and procedures the Grant Holder will inform the Applicant about the outcome of the assessment and will arrange the necessary formalities for the issue of the grant in case of a positive result and availability of funding.
The decisions and assessments regarding all STSM applications shall be reported to the next MC meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
4.9 Deviation
Any deviations and exceptions from this procedure may be considered, provided that they contribute to the scientific objectives of the Action. They require prior approval from the COST Office.
4.10. How to Submit a STSM Application
4.10.1. Registration by the applicant
The Applicant must use the on-line registration tool to register their request for an STSM. The following information has to be encoded with the registration:
- the Action number;
- the title of the planned STSM;
- the start and end date;
- the applicant's details, including key academic details and workplan;
- the applicant’s bank details;
- the host institution’s;
- financial data (amount for travel and subsistence).
4.10.2. Formal STSM application and annexes
After encoding the information via the on-line registration tool will issue a formal STSM application (see 4.12) which has to be downloaded and sent by the applicant electronically (by e-mail as attachment) together with any necessary document which the Applicant may regard as helpful in supporting the application at the evaluation process (such as CV, full workplan, list of publications, motivation letter, letter of support from the home institute etc.) to:
- the future Host institution of the STSM;
- the MC Chair or the STSM coordinator.
4.10.3. Assessment of the STSM
The MC Chair or the STSM coordinator will arrange the assessment of the STSM.
4.10.4. Approval from the Management Committee
The MC Chair or the STSM coordinator informs the Grant Holder that the proposed STSM has been approved in the form of an e-mail stating:
"Subject: STSM Reference number, COST Action number, grantees name
On behalf of the Management Committee of the above COST Action I would like to inform you after evaluation that: a) the attached request for an STSM has been approved and; b) a grant of EUR x has been recommended and; c) the host institute accepted the proposal."
4.10.5. The Grant letter (see 4.13 - sample)
The Grant Holder will send to the Applicant a Grant letter in which he/she is informed about:
- the approval of the STSM and;
- the level of the financial grant given.
The Applicant has to return this Grant letter, after accepting the grant with his/her signature.
4.11. After the STSM
4.11.1. STSM Scientific Report
After completion of the STSM the grantee is required to submit to the host institution and MC Chair (or the STSM coordinator) a short scientific report on the visit within 4 weeks after his/her stay.
It should contain the following information:
- purpose of the STSM;
- description of the work carried out during the STSM;
- description of the main results obtained;
- future collaboration with host institution (if applicable);
- foreseen publications/articles resulting or to result from the STSM (if applicable);
- confirmation by the host institution of the successful execution of the STSM;
- other comments (if any).
4.11.2. Approval and payment
The MC Chair or the STSM coordinator is responsible for:
- approving the scientific report
- informing the Grant Holder that the STSM has been successfully accomplished and that the grant can be paid.
The e-mail should include the scientific report and state:
"Subject: STSM Reference number, COST Action number, grantee's name
On behalf of the Management Committee of the above COST Action I would like to inform
you that:
1) The above STSM has been completed from
2) The scientific report has been approved by the MC and Host
3) The amount of EUR X can be paid"
After reception of the approval mail and the scientific report, the Grant Holder will execute the payment of the fixed grant directly to the grantee or the host institution as requested in the application.
4.12. Sample Application Form
Is available here, page 33
4.13. Sample Grant letter
Is available here, page 34