Virtual Mobility Grants

Virtual activities inside the network

The COST Programme implemented Virtual mobility grants, mainly due to the COVID 19 pandemic, as a flexible tool to implement virtual activities inside the network. Virtual mobility consists of collaboration in virtual setting among researchers or innovators within the COST Action, to exchange knowledge, learn new techniques, etc.

VMs should:

  • Support capacity building and transfer of knowledge through bilateral/multilateral collaborations;
  • Support specific / general topic that can help achieving the Action MoU objectives anddeliverables (research coordination);
  • Include flexible and inclusive networking activities crucial to establish new collaborations or reinforce existing collaborations across disciplines and different sectors (e.g., academia and industry / SMEs) with possible impact on career development.

VM applicant must be researcher or innovator affiliated to a legal entity in Full or Cooperating COST Member country, NNC country or European RTD Organisation.

VM grant can include many types of activities that can be performed:

  • Virtual mentoring scheme, with special focus on activities and exchanges that can generate capacity building and new skills, particularly for Young Researchers and Innovators (managerial and communication skills, methodological skills, etc).
  • Harmonisation and standardization of methods and procedure (setting up a survey amongst all Action members to collect different results and outcomes, coordinating the discussions to create common protocols to be used by the network afterwards, preparing questionnaires to be used by the Action members as part of virtual networking activities).
  • Implementation of research coordination related activities that do not necessarily require in-person presence (computational or modeling activities, data analysis, etc).

VM financial support provides a contribution for the overall effort (there are no categories of expenses):

  • Max total contribution : fixed amount, up to 1500 EUR

Amount granted should reflect the duration, scope and complexity of the task and activities. Upon approval of the application, the Grantee receives a Gran Letter from the Grant Holder stating the approved amount and the conditions for receiving the grant. VM need to be carried out within a single Grant Period. Reporting and claim for payment of the grant is within 30 days after the end date of the activity or 15 days after the end of the Grant Period whichever comes first.

DOWNLOAD VIRTUAL MOBILITY GRANT RULES, TERMS & CONDITIONS