STSM/VM – Paar-Net

Topic of the COST Action CA22167

There is a significant international commitment to give non-academics a greater role in science to help deliver impactful research and realise the European vision of science for the people, by the people. To support this commitment, the PAAR-net COST Action focuses on knowledge co-production, labelled here as participatory approaches, in research, policymaking and practice. It focuses on research, policy and practice intervention designs by experts-by-training (usually academics) and experts-by-experience (usually non-academics). The Action focuses on a specific group of experts-by-experience who are often not included in research, namely older adults (aged 65 and older, including those at risk of social exclusion). This COST Action aims to further develop participatory approaches with older adults as a means of driving inclusive social innovation across research, policy, and practice, for heterogenous and fair ageing societies.
PAAR-net aims to gather, exchange and advance knowledge on participatory approaches with older adults (including those at risk of social exclusion) by asking the following questions:

How can diverse groups of older adults be meaningfully involved to contribute their perspectives and experience (including those at risk of social exclusion) in participatory approaches to research, policy and practice development?
How do participatory approaches with diverse older adults (including those at risk of social exclusion) impact research process and the quality of data gathered?
How do participatory approaches impact those (academics and non-academics) involved in research (e.g., wellbeing, reciprocal learning, emancipation)?

For the Grand Period 2, the PAAR-net seeks for peer-review journal articles and funding applications, as well as development of innovative practice and policy strategies (please see Deliverables (4.1.2) in the Memorandum of Understanding) as outputs of the Short-term Scientific Missions (STSM) and Virtual Mobility (VM).

Short-term Scientific Mission and Virtual Mobility

Short-Term Scientific Mission consists in a visit to a host organization located in a different country than the country of affiliation by a researcher or innovator for specific work to be carried out and for a determined period of time.

Virtual Mobility grant consists of a collaboration in an online setting among researchers or innovators within the COST Action, to exchange knowledge, learn new techniques, etc.

The following information is drawn from Annotated Rules for COST Actions(https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2024/11/COST-094-21-V2.0-Annotated-Rules-for-COST-Actions-Level-C.pdf)

Who can apply?

STSMs and VM are intended for Young Researchers and Innovators as well as for the already established researchers;
• In accordance with COST strategy, PAAR-net supports Young Researchers and Innovators (YRI, under the age of 40) affiliated in a legal entity in Inclusiveness Target Countries/ Near Neighbour Countries (ITC/NNC).

Amount of grants

The financial support on offer is a contribution to the overall expenses incurred during the STSM and may not necessarily cover all of the associated outgoings. Financial support is limited to covering travel and subsistence expenses and is paid as a grant.
During an STSM neither the MC, nor the COST Office nor the Grant Holder may be considered as an employer. Grantees must make their own arrangements for all health, social, personal security and pension matters.
Grants are processed only after the STSM or VM has taken place and the reporting retirements have been satisfied and approved by the Grant awarding coordinator.

The following funding conditions apply and must be respected:

A STSM grantee can be afforded up to a maximum of EUR 4000, Virtual mobility – up to EUR 1500;
STSM activities must occur in their entirety within the dates specified in this call.
For this Grant Period, the Management Committee of PAAR-net COST Action has allocated a total budget of EUR 18.000 for STSMs and EUR 10.000 for VM.
The amounts granted for each individual STSM/VM will be determined during the evaluation process.

How to Apply

The applicationshall be submitted online in e-COST using dedicated forms available. The application can be accessed by the holders of leadership positions and any evaluation committees in the Action for evaluation purposes.
Applicants must upload their CV in their e-COST profile. This information will be visible to the holders of leadership positions and any evaluation committees in the Action for evaluation purposes.

To be filled in e-COST:

Title
Start and end date (within the active Grant Period)
Budget requested by the applicant;
Information about the host institution and contact person.

To be uploaded to e-COST:

Application form (template available on e-COST) describing: Goals of the STSM/VM, description of the work to be carried out by the applicant, of the contribution to the Action MoU objectives and expected outcomes (peer-review journal articles, funding applications or practice and policy briefs);
Confirmation of the host on the agreement from the host institution in receiving the applicant;
Other documents required by the Action:

CV,

List of publications,

Work plan – should include objectives for visit, time-line and core tasks to be undertaken; expected outputs and deliverables (peer-review journal articles, funding applications or practice and policy briefs). Work plan should be structured with a particular research question in mind and with a view to developing work that will form the basis for a peer review publication.

Written agreement letter from the host institution;
Support letter from the home institution;
Motivation letter, highlighting the importance of the mission for this COST Action, and for his/her own training and career.

The selection of applicants is based on the following criteria:

1. The fit between the Action and the scientific scope of the STSM application. The proposal must clearly complement the overall objectives of the Action (listed in the MOU of the Action found here https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA22167/).

2. Applicants active and contributing to the COST action in a Work Group will be given priority.

3. YRI from ICT/NNC will be given priority over other applicants.

4. Applicant’s cv, and particularly his/her background (research interests; experience and publications in peer-reviewed journals) on the topic covered by the Action.

When to apply?

The current call is open until 10th October 2025. STSMs may take place within the period: 1st March 2025 and 15th September 2025..

After the VM/STSM has taken place

Once the STSM / VM has ended, the grantee submits the required reports and relevant documentation in e-COST within 30 days after the end date of the activity.
The applicant is also responsible for acquiring an official acceptance letter / Email confirmation of acceptance from a senior researcher affiliated to the host institution formally accepting the scientific report.
Claim the payment by submitting the report via e-COST;
The required report/documentation for claiming a STSM/VM Grant is: Report to the Action MC on the work developed, main achievements of the STSM/VM and planned future follow up activities.
In the outputs (publications) reference to the Action increasing its visibility is requested.
Failure to submit the scientific report within 30 days from the end date of the STSM/VM will effectively cancel the Grant.

NOTICE OF COMPLETION:

The Grant Awarding coordinator will approve the final report and send the completion notice to the Grant Holder. The Grant Holder will then execute the payment of the grant directly to the grantee.

Grant Awarding Coordinators

Dr. Gražina Rapolienė, Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences (g.rapolienė@gmail.com), and Prof. Andreas Motel-Klingebiel, Linköping University ([email protected])