MedPlants4Vet Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSM) – Call for applications 2026

Given the current stage of the Action and the available budget this call particularly encourages targeted missions aligned with ongoing Working Group (WG) activities.

Scope and Priority Areas

This call prioritises STSM proposals that:

• Contribute directly to ongoing tasks and deliverables of WGs 2, 3, and 4
• Support data generation, analysis, or harmonisation efforts
• Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration (e.g. pharmacology, phytochemistry, ethnoveterinary research)
• Enable hands-on laboratory training or methodological exchange
• Advance systematic reviews, experimental validation, or clinical/translational work

Indicative priority topics:

• WG2: HVMP inventory, regulatory mapping, data structuring
• WG3: Historical/Open Source Literature/Grey Literature data analysis and protocol development
• WG4: Safety, efficacy, in vitro/in vivo methodologies, and quality assessment
• Cross-WG activities:
  • Supporting systematic reviews (e.g. lavender, thyme)
  • Linking literature data with experimental validation (e.g. in vitro studies)
  • Preparing inputs for guidelines, protocols, or monographs

Type of Activities Supported

STSMs may include:

• Experimental work (e.g. in vivo, in vitro assays, pharmacological testing)
• Data analysis and integration
• Development of joint methodologies or protocols
• Training in specialised techniques
• Collaboration on manuscripts, reviews, or WG deliverables

The duration of a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) must be a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 60 days, in accordance with COST rules. The duration must be scientifically justified (linked to the work plan).

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be affiliated with an institution in a COST Member country or approved participant country
• Be actively involved in MedPlants4Vet (WG member or contributor)
• Have an active e-COST profile

Young Researchers and Innovators (YRIs) are particularly encouraged to apply, in line with COST inclusiveness principles.

Financial Support

Financial support is provided according to COST rules and covers:

• Travel
• Accommodation
• Daily allowance

The financial support for STSMs is provided as a grant contribution. For this call, the maximum grant per STSM is set at €3,000. Grant amounts will be awarded proportionally to the duration and scientific scope of the mission. Higher grant levels (above €2,500) will be reserved for longer stays involving substantial research activities (typically missions of typically ≥3–4 weeks).
Shorter stays will receive proportionally lower funding to ensure a fair and efficient distribution of the available budget. The final grant amount is determined by the Grant Holder Manager based on budget availability and request .

Application Procedure

Log into the e-COST portal (https://e-services.cost.eu/).  Fill out the STSM application form (Annex 1) and upload the following documents:

• STSM Work Plan (Annex 2)
• Motivation Letter explaining how the STSM aligns with the COST Action's objectives.
• CV (max 3 pages)
• Letter of Support from the Home Institution (Annex 3)*
• Letter of Invitation from the Host Institution (Annex 4)
• Requested budget (Annex 5)
• Verification sheet (Annex 6)

* A Letter of Support from the Home Institution (Annex 3) is required for applicants affiliated with an institution. However, for applicants who are self-employed or not formally affiliated with an institution (e.g. independent researchers or professionals), this document is not required.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Scientific quality and feasibility
• Relevance to MedPlants4Vet objectives and WG activities
• Expected impact on the Action deliverables
• Contribution to capacity building and networking
• Inclusiveness (career stage, geography, gender balance)

Grant Awarding Coordinators evaluates the applications according to the mentioned criteria. The final ranking will be approved by the Action Chair and Co-Chair.

Timeline

Ensure the full application is submitted on the e-COST portal at least 30 days before the planned start date.

• Call opening: 12.05.2026
• Call deadline: 22.05.2026
• Planned STSM period: Starting from June 2026 onwards

Before Your STSM

Sign the Grant Agreement Letter (GAL). Make your travel and accommodation arrangements.

After STSM

STSM grantees are expected to submit a scientific report (Annex 7) within 30 days after the mission and fill end of STSM Host Institution Confirmation Form (Annex 8) and evidence of completed mobility (travel documents). Payment is made after the report is approved.
A short report (Annex 9) version of the grantees' of their experience to be published in the newsletter and to contribute with content (posts, pictures, short videos etc) for the Action social media and Website.

All requested documents (Annex 7, Annex 8 and Annex 9) must be uploaded in e-COST. Please note that failure to submit the scientific report and annexes on time will effectively cancel the grant.

Need Help?

Grant Awarding Coordinators

Begum Yurdakok Dikmen (byurdakok(at)yahoo.com)
Ivona Foitova (foitova(at)sci.muni.cz)

Administrative matters

Maura Ellenberger (maura.ellenberger(at)fibl.org)

Concerning the Action Chair

Theresa Schlittenlacher (theresa.schlittenlacher(at)fibl.org)
Marta Mendel (marta_mendel@sggw.edu.pl)

Concernig the VM scientific matters

Alvaro Fernández-Blanco Barreto (alvaro(at)sanasvet.es)
Ivona Foitová (foitova@sci.muni.cz)

Travel expenses and general matters:

Maura Ellenberger (maura.ellenberger(at)fibl.org)

For scientific alignment

Contact the Working Group Leader