Networking Tools and Grant Opportunities

General Description

A Dissemination Conference Grant provides financial support for an oral presentation by an Action Participant presenting the work and results of the Action at a high-level international conference fully organized by a third party (i.e. not organized or co-organized by the COST Action). This grant aims to showcase the achievements and impact of the TEAR-Precision (CA24112) Action to a broader research and stakeholder community.

Purpose of the Grant

Dissemination Conference Grants are designed to:

• Increase the visibility of the Action in the wider research and innovation community.
• Disseminate the Action’s results to relevant audiences, including potential end-users and stakeholders.
• Promote collaboration and engagement, attracting new participants or partners to the Action.
• Enhance the professional visibility of the presenter representing the Action.

​Benefits For the Grantee

• Receives support to attend and deliver an oral presentation showcasing the Action’s objectives, activities, and results.
• Gains visibility and recognition within the research community.
• Builds new professional connections and potential future collaborations.

​Benefits For the Action

• Increases the visibility and outreach of the Action.
• Establishes new contacts with stakeholders and end-users.
• Strengthens the dissemination and impact of the Action’s outcomes.

​Eligibility

To be eligible for a Dissemination Conference Grant, the applicant must:

• Be an Action Participant of the TEAR-Precision (CA24112) Action.
• Deliver an oral presentation about the Action and its activities, including acknowledgment of COST support in the presentation and conference materials.
• Present at a high-level international conference fully organized by a third party (not by the COST Action).

​How to Apply

Applications are submitted via the e-COST system.

Applicants are required to provide:

• Conference details (title, organizer, location, dates).
• Abstract and proof of acceptance for the oral presentation.
• Motivation letter explaining how the presentation will promote the Action.
• Estimated budget (travel, registration, accommodation).

Applications are evaluated by the Grant Awarding Committee on a rolling basis.

General Description

ITC Conference grant funds an oral presentation of an applicant's 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.

YRI Conference grant funds a presentation (poster/oral presentation) of an applicant's own work within the scope of the Action by a Young Researcher and Innovator (YRI - under 40 years of age) in a high-level conference fully organized by a third party, i.e. not organized nor co-organized by the COST Action..

These grants serve the COST Excellence and Inclusiveness Policy, supporting both:

• Researchers affiliated with institutions in Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs) or Near Neighbour Countries (NNCs), and
• Young Researchers and Innovators (YRIs) across Europe and beyond.

​Grant Details

Grants are intended to cover travel, accommodation and conference registration fees up to EUR 2500 for in-person conferences.

​Purpose of the Grant

ITC Conference Grants are designed to:

• Serve the COST Excellence and Inclusiveness Policy.
• Support young and early-career researchers and researchers from ITC and NNC countries in establishing strong international networks and increasing their visibility within the research community.
• Enable grantees to share their work and gain new knowledge by participating in high-level scientific events.
• Contribute to the visibility and dissemination of the TEAR-Precision Action.

​Benefits For the Grantee

• Receives financial support to attend and deliver an oral presentation of their own research at an international conference.
• Gains the opportunity to establish new contacts, foster collaborations, and raise their scientific profile.

​Benefits For the Action

• Promotes the Action’s goals and results through the participation of its members in international scientific forums.
• Strengthens COST’s commitment to inclusiveness and capacity building across Europe and neighbouring regions.

​Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be Action Participants affiliated with an institution in an ITC/NNC or qualify as Young Researchers and Innovators (YRIs).
• Deliver an oral or poster presentation directly related to the objectives of the TEAR-Precision (CA24112) Action.
• Acknowledge COST support in their presentation and conference materials.

How to Apply

​Applications for Conference Grants are submitted through the e-COST system.

Applicants are asked to provide:

• Conference details (title, organizer, location, dates).
• Abstract of the presentation.
• Proof of acceptance for an oral/poster presentation.
• Motivation and expected impact in applicant's career and in promoting the Action.
• Estimated budget (travel, registration, accommodation).
• Screen shot of application to relevant Working Group(s) (WG) if not already a
  member of TEAR-Precision.

Please note that partial documents or screenshots (except of WG application) are not accepted as eligible documentation.

Applications will be reviewed by the Grant Awarding Committee on a rolling basis.

​Evaluation Criteria

Scientific quality and relevance to the Action objectives.

• Benefit to applicant and Action.
• Balance across Working Groups, gender, and countries.

Applications are evaluated by the Grant Awarding Committee on a rolling basis.

Reporting after completion of conference Grants

Within 30 days, grant awardees (grantees) should submit a scientific report (template available on eCOST).
The report must be approved by the Grant Awarding Coordinator.
After approval, the grant will be reimbursed to the applicant’s bank account.

For transparency, the grantee’s name, home and host institutions, duration, and project title may be published on the TEAR-Precision website. As part of the report, grantees will be asked to fill out a short communication form summarizing their experience and key outcomes of the visit. Based on this information, the Science Communication Coordinator will prepare a short post to be shared on the Action’s website and social media channels. If grant awardees fail to submit the report within 30 days, the grant will not be paid out. It is the grantees responsibility to conform to the deadline.

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General Rules

The Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) grant funds a visit to a host organization located in a different country by a researcher for specific work to be carried out and for a determined period of time. These exchange visits aim to support individual mobility, train young researchers, and foster collaboration between institutions through the activities of the Action’s Working Groups. Each year, several STSMs will be funded to promote the exchange of techniques, knowledge, and expertise between laboratories in different COST Member States. An STSM must directly contribute to the scientific objectives of the TEAR-Precision COST Action (CA24112), while enabling participants to acquire new skills, access specific data, instruments, and methods not available at their home institutions.

Grant Details

A maximum of €4000 can be awarded.

Who Can Apply

STSM applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be engaged in an official research programme as a PhD student or postdoctoral researcher.
• Be employed by, or affiliated with, an institution, organisation, or legal entity with a clear research remit.
• Applicants must be from a COST Participating country.

STSM Duration

STSM must have a minimum duration of 5 days and a maximum duration of 90 days. All STSM need to be carried out in their entirety within a single Grant Period and within the Action’s lifetime. For the period of the STSM neither the MC, nor the COST Association nor the Grant Holder may be considered as an employer. The grantees must make their own arrangements for all health, social, personal security, taxation and pension matters.​

Application Requirements

Applications must include:

• A research/work plan (max. 2000 words).
• A letter of invitation from the host institution/researcher.
• A budget plan.
• A short scientific CV.

Applications are reviewed by the STSM Committee on a rolling basis (first come, first served).
Evaluation results are communicated within approximately 14 days of submission.

Criteria for Evaluation

• Scientific quality and relevance to the Action objectives.
• Benefit to both applicant and host institution.
• Expected outcomes (e.g., planned publications, ongoing collaboration).
• Balance across Working Groups, gender, and countries.

Priority is given to Young researchers and innovators (YRIs) and applicants from Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs), provided proposals are of comparable quality.

Awarding Procedure

Recommendations made by the STSM Coordinator are subject to approval by the Core Group.

How to Apply

1. Obtain a Letter of Acceptance from the host institution/researcher.
2. Log in to the e-COST portal.
3. Go to STSM Applications → create a new request.
4. Fill in all required information, including Action number CA24112, project title, start/end dates, motivation, and work plan.
5. Upload supporting documents (CV, letter, and STSM plan).
6. Upload a screen shot of application to relevant Working Group(s) (WG) if not already a
   member of TEAR-Precision.
7. ​Notify the STSM Coordinator, Dr. Guglielmo Di Molfetta (guglielmo.di.molfetta@gu.se), once your application has been submitted.

​Please note that partial documents or screenshots (except of WG application) are not accepted as eligible documentation.

​​After Approval

• Carry out the STSM.
• Within 30 days of completion, submit a scientific report (template available on eCOST).
• The report must be approved by the host and the STSM Coordinator.
• After approval, the grant will be reimbursed to the applicant’s bank account.

For transparency, the grantee’s name, home and host institutions, duration, and project title may be published on the TEAR-Precision website. After completing the STSM, grantees will be asked to fill out a short communication form summarizing their experience and key outcomes of the visit. Based on this information, the Science Communication Coordinator will prepare a short post to be shared on the Action’s website and social media channels.

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