Short Term Scientific Missions
STSM Call Ocean Tribology 2025
What is an STSM?
Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are exchange visits to a Host Institution located in a different country than the one of affiliation of a Researcher or Innovator. STSM’s are flexible, but it must strengthen collaboration among researchers and Institutions or improve the knowledge and skills of individuals.
Each STSM should contribute to the overall objectives of the COST Action Ocean Tribology (OTC), see Action CA23155 – COST, particularly its scientific goals. These missions allow grantees to learn new techniques and gain access to specific data, instruments, and/or methodologies not available at their home institutions. At the same time, hosts benefit by expanding international contacts and fostering long-term collaborations.
Who can apply?
STSMs are open for Master’s and PhDs students, Postdoctoral researchers.
Applicants must be affiliated with institutions in countries as defined in the eligibility criteria (see below). Note that researchers cannot apply for an STSM in their own country.
The STSM applicant must be employed or affiliated to an institution, organization or legal entity engaged in research. The applicant’s main research institution is considered the Home Institution. The Host Institution is the organization that will host the successful applicant.
Participation of Young Researchers and Innovators in an STSM is highly encouraged. An applicant qualifies as an Early Career Investigator (ECI) if no more than eight years have passed since the award of their PhD at the time of the STSM application. PhD students and other research staff are also eligible.
Eligibility
STSMs supports visits to legal entities based in COST Full/Cooperating Members, European RTD organizations or Near Neighbour Countries (NNCs).
See Annex I: Country and Organizations Table in the annotated rules at Funding Documents & Guidelines | COST) for the full list.
Under new COST rules, STSMs can now take place anywhere in the world, as long as they contribute to the goals of the Action.
Duration
Shorter visits than 10 days do not allow substantial research to be performed, but rather just a visit to the foreign laboratory. This is why longer visits are encouraged. Shorter visits are possible if connected to working group activities of the OTC.
The STSM needs to be carried out in its entirety within a single Grant Period and always within the Action’s lifetime. The GP1 finishes on 31st of October 2025, so that the STSMs must be completed by this date. Required documents must be submitted within 30 days after completing the STSM (or max. September 30, 2025, whichever comes first).
Funding
The maximum funding per STSM is 4000 EUR. Funding is provided as a grant, covering travel, accommodation, and meal expenses.
Only the applicant receives financial support—no funding is provided to the Host Institution.
The total annual budget for STSMs is €20,000, expected to fund approximately 5–10 STSMs, depending on the amount requested per application.
Funding is contingent on meeting deliverables and contributing to the objectives of the Action (as outlined in the MoU) within the specified deadlines.
Submission
How can you apply?
Applicants must login with an e-cost user access via the e-cost webpage: https://eservices.cost.eu/stsm. Note that the number of the OTC is CA23155.
Contact a Working Group Leader before submitting your application to ensure alignment with the relevant Work Package (WP). For WG leader names, refer to the Action’s official page: Action CA23155 – COST.
- Ensure your application complies with the Annotated Rules, available under Funding Documents & Guidelines | COST
Complete the online form on the STSM webpage https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm, and upload the following documents:
Grant Application - Confirmation by host
- Curriculum Vitae
Grant Application Content
Your single document should include the following;
- Aim and motivation: What are the topics to be addressed? What is the broader scientific context
- Proposed contribution to the scientific objectives of the Action. How does the STSM further the aims of the OTC COST network, as laid out in the memorandum of understanding (Action CA23155 – COST)? How will it enhance networking within the COST network
- Approach: What activities will be conducted?
- Planning an deliverables: What do you aim to achieve within the STSM time period? What are tangible outcomes?
Notes:
- All this can be sent via the e-cost form.
- Guideline for the proposal: typical living-costs in specific countries can be found here.
STSM Evaluation process
If approved, the STSM coordinator sends application and approval to Grant Holder & Action Chair for final check. The mobility period proposed cannot start before the evaluation process is over.
When does the STSM start?
The STSM must not begin until the applicant has received the official Grant Letter from the Grant Holder.
If changes to the STSM are needed, the applicant must inform the STSM Coordinator in advance. Any change must be formally approved before the new Grant Letter is issued. All STSMs must end by October 31, 2025.
What should be sent once the STSM ends?
- After the STSM, the investigator submits a scientific report to the STSM Host and STSM coordinator within 30 days of completing the STSM or the last day of September 2025, whichever comes first. This must include:
- the purpose of the mission
- description of work carried out
- description of main results/outputs
- plan of future collaborations with Host (if applicable)
- planned publications resulting from STSM (if applicable)
- Additionally, an official letter of the confirmation of successful STSM by Host Institution must be submitted.
Once both documents are reviewed and approved by the STSM Coordinator and Action Chair, the grant payment will be processed.