Virtual Mobility Grants

Virtual Mobility (VM) Grants aim to promote virtual collaboration within a COST Action.

A call for applicants for the Virtual Mobility Grant is open for the last Grant Period until all grants have been awarded.

Application for these grants is exclusively through the e-COST platform:

1. If you haven't registered on e-COST, please do so at https://e-services.cost.eu/user/registration/email
2. Access the Virtual Mobility Grants application page at https://e-services.cost.eu/activity/grants/add?type=VM
3. Click on the Apply for Grant button.
4. Choose CA19117 Researcher Mental Health in the COST Action field.
5. Choose AGA-CA19117-4 in the Grant Period field.
6. Enter the title of your grant proposal in the Title field.
7. Enter the amount of your grant in the Amount field. Each Virtual Mobility Grant cannot exceed EUR 1 500.
8. Choose your bank account in the Bank account field.
9. Choose a Start Date.
10. Choose an End Date. 31st August 2024 is the latest date recommended.
11. Click on the Save Application button.
12. Download and complete the Virtual Mobility Grant Application Template from https://www.cost.eu/VM_GrantApplication
13. Enter a Title / Description for your proposal.
14. Browse the File to Upload field and upload your proposal. You can upload files up to 2 MB each. Supported file types are: pdf, png, jpg, jpeg, gif, doc, docx, odf, xls, xlsx.
15. Click on the Submit application button.

VIRTUAL MOBILITY (VM) GRANTS

1 ELIGIBILITY RULES

The following eligibility criteria apply:

• Applicant(s) are Action participants with a primary affiliation to an institution located in a COST Full or Cooperating Member country, a COST Near Neighbour Country or from a European RTD organisation.
• The applicant(s) shall inform the MC about the aim of the VM Grant and how its outcomes will generate benefits to the Action, actively contribute to the activities and overall objectives of the Action and submit a report at the end, to be approved by the VNS manager on behalf of the MC.

2 EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF APPLICANTS

The evaluation of each grant application is performed by a committee mandated by the Action’s MC.

The evaluation criteria defined by the Action’s MC shall be communicated to all potential applicants. The following evaluation criteria are used to evaluate applications:

• The Virtual Mobility Activities should contribute to the scientific objectives of ReMO as described in the Researcher Mental Health and Well-being Manifesto.
• The Virtual Mobility Activities should provide added value to ReMO.
• The selection of applicants is based on the scientific aims and scope of the application which must clearly compliment the overall objectives of ReMO.
• Contribution to personal development of the applicant based on the written application.
• Gender balance will be taken into consideration.
• Applicants coming from Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs) that are ReMO members will be given priority.

The selection of successful grantees shall be based on contributions to the overall objectives of the Action, the approved strategy on the virtual networking for the Action and the implementation of the COST Excellence and Inclusiveness Policy.
The application shall be submitted in e-COST and include the following information:

• Main objective of the Virtual Mobility Grant.
• Working Plan: Description of the collaborative initiative to be implemented.
• Plan for Participation: List of participants in the collaborative initiative (short description of their expertise and contribution).
• Main expected outputs: results and contribution to the progress towards the MoU objectives (either research coordination and/or capacity building objectives can be tackled) and delivery of the MoU objectives.
• Contribution to the COST Action Strategy: How will the Virtual Mobility contribute to the COST Excellence and Inclusiveness Policy and plans for stakeholder engagement and promoting participation of researchers from NNC and IPC (COST Global Networking) and to the approved virtual networking strategy, if available.

3 IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES

The successful applicant(s) shall implement the workplan approved in their application within the time frame also there defined and always within one single Grant Period.

Examples of activities that could be funded in the framework of a virtual mobility grant are:

• research collaboration within ReMO
• graphic design
• podcast production
• social media promotion
• blog management

The grantee has 30 calendar days from the completion of the Virtual Mobility Grant to submit a report to the Action Chair/ the VNS Manager and to the Science Officer of the Action including:

• Description of the outcomes and achieved outputs (including any specific MoU deliverables, or publications resulting from the Virtual Mobility).
• Description of the benefits to the COST Action Strategy (what and how).
• Description of the virtual collaboration (including constructive reflection on activities undertaken, identified successful practices and lessons learned).

The report shall consider only virtual activities carried out in their entirety within a single Grant Period.
The MC must be informed at the end of the respective activity of the main results of each Virtual Mobility Grant. Also, the grantee will have the obligation to actively contribute to the activities of the Action WG relevant to those findings.

4 FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND PAYMENT

A maximum of 6 Virtual Mobility Grants per Action per Grant Period can be awarded. Each Virtual Mobility Grant cannot exceed EUR 1 500.
The MC shall define the exact amount of each grant reflecting the scope and complexity of the task and activities. The grant does not necessarily cover all expenses related to undertaking the virtual mobility activity.
The Grant Holder shall pay the approved grant to the grantee after the MC has approved the grantee’s report and no later than 15 days from the end of Grant Period.
The COST Association and the Grant Holder of the Action cannot be considered as being the grantee’s employer who shall make their own arrangements for all provisions related to personal security, health, taxation, social security, and pension matters. The grantee must also ensure they have the required technical material/equipment and infrastructure to carry out the activities proposed in their application to the grant.