STSM – PAAR-Net (3rd Call)

For the Grant Period 3, PAAR-Net seeks to support activities focusing on the quality of participatory approaches. Outputs of STSMs such as peer-reviewed journal articles, funding applications, and the development or evaluation of innovative practice and policy strategies, instruments or frameworks are particularly welcomed (see Deliverables 4.1.2 in the MoU).
Please clearly explain how your action is influenced by PAAR-Net and do not hesitate to specify your vision of “participatory approach”.
A potential tool could be the figure 1 by Vaughn et al. (2020): Participatory Research Methods – Choice Points in the Research Process.

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 (CA22167) focuses on knowledge co-production, labelled here as participatory approaches, in research, policymaking and practice.
The Action 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 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)?

Short-Term Scientific Mission versus Virtual Mobility

A Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) consists of a face-to-face visit to a host organization located in a different country than the country of affiliation by a researcher/innovator, for specific work to be carried out for a determined period of time.

The added-value of “face-to-face” STSMs should clearly show the need for such a visit (e.g., making interviews; adapting a questionnaire and organizing a collective meeting with co-creators/stakeholders, etc.). We invite you to carefully read the relevant pages in the Annotated Rules for COST Actions (pp. 95–97).

In contrast, a Virtual Mobility (VM) grant consists of a collaboration in an online setting among researchers/innovators within the COST Action, to exchange knowledge, learn new techniques, etc.

📌 A new call for VM will be open around June 2026.

Amount of grants

The financial support is a contribution to the overall expenses incurred during the STSM and may not necessarily cover all costs. 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 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 STSM grantee can be afforded up to a maximum of EUR 2100
• In the current budget plan EUR 6300 are reserved for STSM grants
• STSM activities must occur in their entirety within the dates specified in this call
• The amounts granted for each individual STSM will be determined during the evaluation process
  

Who Can Apply?

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

How to Apply?

The application shall be submitted online in e-COST using dedicated forms available. The application can be accessed by leadership positions and evaluation committees in the Action for evaluation purposes.
Applicants must upload their CV in their e-COST profile.

To be filled in e-COST:

• Title
• Start and end date (within the active Grant Period)
• Budget requested by the applicant (clear estimation is required)
• Information about the host institution and contact person

To be uploaded to e-COST:

• Application form (template available in e-COST) describing:
  • goals of the STSM
  • work to be carried out by the applicant
  • contribution to Action objectives
  • expected outcomes (peer-reviewed journal articles, funding applications, practice and policy briefs)
• Confirmation of the host agreement
• Other required documents:
  • CV
  • List of publications
  • Work plan (objectives, timeline, tasks, expected outputs/deliverables)
  • Written agreement letter from host institution
  • Support letter from home institution
  • Motivation letter (importance for PAAR-Net and for applicant’s training/career)
    

The selection of applicants is based on:

1. Fit between PAAR-Net objectives and STSM application scope (see MoU)
2. Applicants active/contributing to the COST Action will be prioritised
3. YRI from ITC/NNC will be prioritised
4. Applicant’s CV and background (research interests, experience, publications)

When to apply?
This call is open until 30 January 2026.
Reviewing will be finalised by 20 February 2026.

STSMs may be conducted between:
📅 1 March 2026 – 30 May 2026
Provided that the budget has not been exhausted, a new call will open in September 2026.
📌 A new call for Virtual Mobility will open around June 2026.

After the STSM has taken place

Once the STSM has ended, the grantee must submit the required report and documentation in e-COST within 30 days after the end date of the mission.

The required report/documentation for claiming a STSM Grant is:

• Report to the Action MC on the work developed, main achievements and planned follow-up activities
• Reference to the Action in outputs/publications is requested
• Failure to submit the scientific report within 30 days will 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
Prof. Thibauld Moulaert, Université Grenoble Alpes ([email protected])
and substitute
Dr. Heidi Kaspar, Bern University of Applied Sciences ([email protected])

COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020.