ITC, YRIC & DC Grants

Call for Conference Grants

for conferences occurring between 1st of April 2026 and 30th of September 2026

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:

1) 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?

2) How do participatory approaches with diverse older adults (including those at risk of social exclusion) impact research process and the quality of data gathered?

3) How do participatory approaches impact those (academics and non-academics) involved in research (e.g., wellbeing, reciprocal learning, emancipation)?

Purpose of ITC Conference and Dissemination Conference grants

YRI Conference grant funds a presentation (poster/oral presentation) of their own work within the scope of the Action by a Young Researcher and Innovator (YRI) in a high-level conference fully organized by a third party, i.e. not organized nor co-organized by the COST Action.

ITC Conference grant funds an oral presentation of their own work within the scope of the Action by an Action Participant affiliated to a legal entity located in an Inclusiveness Target Country / Near Neighbour Country in a high-level conference fully organized by a third party, i.e. not organized nor co-organized by the COST Action.

Dissemination Conference grant funds an oral presentation by an Action Participant of the work of the Action in a high-level conference fully organized by a third party, i.e. not organized nor co-organized by the COST Action.

The information is drawn from Annotated Rules for COST Actions

Annotated Rules for COST Actions. We invite you to carefully read pages 97-102.

Who can apply?

YRI Conference Grants are limited to Young Researchers and Innovators.
ITC Conference Grants are limited to individuals affiliated to a legal entity located in COST Inclusiveness Target Countries and NNC.
For Dissemination Conference Grant – members of PAAR-Net intending to present work carried out within the PAAR-Net Action.

Amount of grants

ITC/DC grants: Providing a contribution for travelling, accommodation and subsistence expenses, registration fee and overall effort.
YRI grants: Providing a contribution for travelling, accommodation and subsistence expenses, registration fee, printing of scientific poster and overall effort.
Grants are processed only after conference has taken place and the reporting requirements have been satisfied and approved by the Grant awarding coordinator.
The following funding conditions apply and must be respected:
A YRI, ITC and DC conference grantee can be afforded up to a maximum of EUR 2500 per grant for face-to-face conferences OR 500 for online conferences.
For this call EUR 14,900 are reserved for YRI Conference, ITC Conference and DC grants.
Conferences must occur in their entirety within the dates specified in this call.
The amounts granted for each individual grant 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.
According to the type of conference, please read the information and documents to be filled in and uploaded in E-COST on page 101 of
Annotated Rules for COST Actions.

The selection of applicants is based on the following criteria:

The fit between the Action and the scientific scope of the Grant application. The proposal must clearly complement the overall objectives of the Action (PLEASE carefully read the list in the MOU of the Action found here)
Applicants active and contributing to the COST action in their Work Group will be given priority.
YRI must also show how they will (and have met this call in their report) use the conference to extent their professional network.
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 for application open until 22^nd of August 2026. Reviewing will be finalised on 28^th of August. ITC Conference / Dissemination Conference / YRI Conference may be conducted between 1^stof April and 30^th of September 2026.

After the Conference has taken place

Once the Conference has ended, the grantee submits the required reports and relevant documentation in e-COST within 30 days, in any case no later than 18^th of October.

Failure to submit the scientific report in due time will effectively cancel the grant.

Claim the payment by submitting the report via e-COST.

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

Prof. Thibauld Moulaert, Université Grenoble Alpes ([email protected]) and substitute, Dr. Heidi Kaspar, Bern University of Applied Sciences, ([email protected])