NEW CALL OPEN

All VMG activities must occur in their entirety within October 2022.

Purpose of a Virtual Mobility Grant (VMG)

Virtual Mobility Grants aim to strengthen existing networks by allowing scientists to foster collaboration in a virtual setting, to exchange knowledge, learn new techniques, disseminate Action results, etc. The successful applicant(s) will be selected to perform activities that do not necessarily require in-person presence. These activities may include surveys, questionnaires or preparation of protocols, virtual mentoring of activities that can generate capacity, build new skills, etc.

Eligibility

G-BIKE Action participants affiliated to a legal entity in a COST Full/Cooperating Member, in an European RTD, or in a Near Neighbour Country (NNC) institution can apply for a Virtual Mobility Grant.

Applicants shall provide information about the aim of the VM Grant and how its outcomes will generate benefits to our Action, actively contribute to the activities and overall objectives of the Action and submit a report at the end, to be approved by the evaluation committee on behalf of the MC.

Financial Support

• VMG offers a financial support of up EUR 1500 per Grant.
• Since the financial support comes as a grant, no invoices or other justification of the expenses will be requested.
• The VM Grants cannot be used to attend virtual conferences or to purchase software license or set up a database.

How to apply for an VMG

Interested researchers can apply anytime by following the directions provided below and submitting their electronic application and supporting documents via the e-COST platform.

 There is no deadline. We switched to an open call for all participants.

Application Process

1. All applicants must carefully read the funding rules of the COST Annotated Rules. This document is available HERE (ANNEX 2).
2. All applicants must register for an e-COST profile at https://e-services.cost.eu/ - adding their bank account details to their profile.
3. Applicants are encouraged to contact respective working group(s) leader(s) prior to submitting their application to ensure that proposed outcome of their VMG agrees with the objectives of this action.
4. All applicants must send their submitted VMG application form and the relevant supporting documents through the e-COST platform https://e-services.cost.eu/activity/grants/add for evaluation by the VMG Committee.
5. The application will then be assessed by the formally delegated VMG Committee against the perceived contribution that the proposed visit will make against the scientific objectives outlined in the Action’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of G-BIKE (but see also Annex to this document).
6. Committee members: Joachim Mergeay (Belgium), Mike Bruford (UK, WG2), Piotr Robakowski (PL: WG3), Carles Vila (ES; WG2, WG4), Gernot Segelbacher (DE; WG4) and Eleni Abraham (EL; WG1, WG3) with substitutes Alejandro Valdecantos (ES; WG3) and Marjana Westergren (SL; WG1), and Belma Kalamujic (WP5).
7. The applicant will be formally notified of the outcome of their VMG application after 10 working days after the application arrival.
8. Within 30 days from the end date of the VMG, the successful applicant must submit a scientific report through the e-COST platform. Failure to submit the scientific report within 30 days from the end date of the STSM will effectively cancel the Grant.

(Please note that the COST Association can request additional information to substantiate the information contained within the documents submitted by STSM applicants).

Annex

VMG evaluation criteria for G-BIKE

Each VMG proposal will be evaluated according to the following five criteria:

• Scientific quality
• Connection to the objectives of G-BIKE (see MoU)
• Awaited output / chance for publication
• Involvement of inclusiveness target countries (ITCs)
• Gender balance

It is further aimed to support VMG of different WG topics.