ENVIRANT Call for Applications – Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) 2nd Grant Period

The ENVIRANT Action (CA23154) is pleased to announce that the call for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) for the 2nd Grant Period is now open.

The call opened on 29 December 2025 and will remain open until the end of April 2026. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

This call covers STSMs taking place during the first part of the Grant Period, from December to April. A second call will be launched midway through the Grant Period to support STSMs scheduled for the period May–September.

The indicative financial support for each STSM is up to €1,500. The final amount awarded may be adjusted in line with COST rules, depending on the duration of the mission and the destination country.

What are STSMs?

Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are mobility grants designed to support researchers in visiting a host institution in another country. Their purpose is to foster collaboration, strengthen scientific networks, and support the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.

Within ENVIRANT, STSMs should contribute directly to the scientific objectives of COST Action CA23154. They should also enable participants to gain access to techniques, data, instruments, and/or methods that are not available at their home institution.

Who is eligible?

Applicants may be:

• Researchers of any age affiliated with an institution in a COST Member Country or Near Neighbour Country (NNC).

• Researchers planning to carry out an STSM at a host institution in a different country from their home institution.

Priority will be given to Early Career Investigators (ECIs). An applicant is considered an ECI if no more than 8 years have passed since the award date of their PhD.

Evaluation criteria

Applications will be evaluated by the Grant Awarding Committee, comprising María Martínez Valladares, Smaro Sotiraki, Panagiota Ligda, Andrew Williams, and Elora Valderas, established during the 2nd MC meeting held in Vienna in February 2025.

The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

• The proposed Work Plan must contribute to the work of one or more ENVIRANT Working Groups; this is mandatory.

• Quality of the Work Plan, including clarity, feasibility, timeline, and planned activities.

• Suitability of the Host Institution, including its relevance and support for achieving the objectives of the mission.

• Applicant’s CV and motivation letter, with priority given to ECIs with a relevant research background.

• Budget justification, including whether the requested support is appropriate for the planned activities and duration of the STSM.

• Priority will also be given to applicants who have not previously received a grant from this COST Action.

• Gender balance and ITC country participation for both the grantee and the host institution will also be considered.

STSM rules

STSMs must comply with the following conditions:

• They must be fully completed within a single Grant Period and within the lifetime of the Action.

• For this 2nd Grant Period, all STSMs under this call must be completed by the end of April 2026.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through e-COST.

1. Log in to e-COST.

2. Click on COST Actions and then select My Grant Applications.

3. Click Apply for Grant to create a new application.

4. Select the appropriate grant type and complete the online form.

5. Select COST Action ENVIRANT from the list of active Actions.

6. Upload the completed application form and all required supporting documents.

7. Submit the application through e-COST.

The status of submitted applications can be followed through Grant Applications Monitoring.

Required documents

Applicants must upload:

• The STSM Grant Application, based on the e-COST template: https://www.cost.eu/STSM_GrantApplication

• Confirmation from the host institution agreeing to receive the applicant

• A motivation letter

• A justification of estimated expenses, including:

• Estimated travel costs, such as flights and transport

• Hotel/accommodation

• Daily allowance according to the destination country

Contact

For more detailed information, please contact Elora Valderas at evalg@unileon.es and Giota Ligda at giota.lig@hotmail.com.