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Leading Platform for European Citizens, Industries, Academia and Policymakers in Media Accessibility

Open Calls for LEAD-ME Grants

Within the LEAD-ME COST (CA19142) Action there are two open calls to fund research relevant to Media Accessibility. This current call is ongoing and the applications can be submitted at any time. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Summary

Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)

ITC Conference Grants

Open Call for applications: LEAD-ME short-term scientific missions (STSMs)

Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are exchange visits aimed at supporting researchers’ individual mobility, strengthening existing networks and fostering collaboration. STSMs are intended especially, but not solely, for young researchers.

An STSM should specifically contribute to the scientific objectives of the COST Action "LEAD-ME", while enabling those partaking in the missions to establish new partnerships, learn new techniques, gain access to specific data, instruments and / or methods not available in their own institutions / organisations.

Who can apply?

STSMs are open for PhDs, PostDocs, and advanced career researchers employed at institutions in countries participating in "LEAD-ME", or at approved institutions. STSMs must be performed between COST countries - researchers cannot apply for an STSM within their own country.

Priority will be given to Early Career Investigators (ECI) (maximum 8 years since obtaining their PhD at the time of application) and PhD students working on socio-technical aspects of the collaborative economy.

Particular consideration will also be given to candidates moving from/to COST Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs), which include Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Serbia and Turkey.

International COST participants may host STSM researchers from European COST countries but may not apply for STSMs themselves.

Awards throughout the annual grant period will be made to support scientific excellence, and to support a variety of researchers in terms of gender, career stage, affiliation, and nationality.

What can you apply for?

You can apply for a short term scientific mission of the duration between 5 and 90 days (and up to 180 days if the applicant is an ECI). The STSM will be a fixed grant to cover part of the travel expenses and living allowance. The cost of research materials is not eligible for consideration as part of the grant.

Please note that the awarded grant will be paid only after the STSM has been completed – therefore the applicant must have approval and prior financial support e.g., from their own institution.

The following funding conditions apply and must be respected:

STSM awards may be combined with other funding sources, but these must be acknowledged in the application.

In your application, you will have to describe the goal of the proposed STSM, how it contributes to the scientific remit of the COST Action "LEAD-ME", the planned expenses and the outputs planned as result of the STSM. For ECIs, two support letters by advanced career researchers will be required.

For detailed rules regarding eligibility and financial support, please see the relevant sections of the COST guidelines.

When can you apply?

Calls for STSM applications are currently open and will be addressed on a per application basic. We are likely to move to a series of call dates later in the COST action.

How can you apply?

This is a step-by-step guide to applying for an STSM and the criteria by which STSM applications will be assessed. More in-depth information can be found at the COST Annotated Rules. Please contact Chris Hughes (STSM coordinator) if you have any queries.

The application process is as follows:

  1. Applicants must submit an application using e-COST https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm. If you do not already have an e-COST account you will first need to 'create an account' - which will include providing the details of the bank account where the grant will be lodged if your STSM application is approved and the STSM successfully completed.
  2. Applicants must obtain a letter of invitation from the Host Institution confirming that they can undertake the STSM on the given dates should their application be approved.
  3. Applicants must complete, submit and download their STSM application online at: https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm.
  4. Applicants must send their application form and the relevant supporting documents for evaluation, to Chris Hughes (STSM coordinator)

The list of supporting documents to be submitted for the evaluation are:

  1. The “LEAD-ME” STSM committee organises assessment of the STSM proposal: STSM selection team assess the proposal (see ‘STSM Selection Criteria’) – may seek expert but impartial advice to inform their decision. If approved, the STSM coordinator sends application and approval to Grant Holder & Action Chair for final check.
  2. The Grant Holder sends the applicant a grant letter to sign and return. The STSM should not be started until this letter has been signed and returned.
  3. After the STSM, the investigator submits a scientific report to the STSM Host and STSM coordinator within 30 days of completing the STSM. This must include: the purpose of the mission; description of work carried out; description of main results/outputs; plan of future collaborations with Host (if applicable); planned publications resulting from STSM (if applicable); confirmation of successful STSM by Host.
  4. STSM Coordinator and Action Chair approve the final report. The Grant Holder executes payment to STSM Applicant.

Criteria for Awarding STSM

STSM funding will be awarded according to the COST key principles of:

Criteria for evaluation will be as follows:

Open Call for applications: ITC Conference Grants

Conference Grants (up to 1000 Euro) are aimed at supporting PhD students and ECI researchers from Participating ITC to attend international science and technology related conferences not specifically organized by the COST Action.

Eligibility criteria

  1. The Applicant is either a PhD student of an Early Career Investigator (ECI). Early Career Investigator (ECI) is an individual who is within a time span of up to 8 years from the date they obtained their PhD/doctorate (full-time equivalent).
  2. The Applicant’s primary affiliation in an institution located in an ITC (Inclusiveness Target Country). The ITCs are as follows: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Serbia and Turkey.
  3. The Applicant must make an oral/poster presentation at the conference in question and must be listed in the official event/conference program. The main subject of the oral presentation / poster presentation / speech at the approved conference must be on the topic of the Action LEAD-ME and must acknowledge COST (see COST Annotated Rules Section 10, page 39).

The participation of each Applicant will be pre-approved by the MC of the COST Action LEAD-ME. Attendance at European conferences is preferred. However, conferences held elsewhere can also be considered.

Additionally:

How to apply?

To apply for a Conference Grant within the LEAD-ME Cost Action (CA19142), please send the following documents (in a single pdf file) to Chris Hughes (ITC Grant coordinator):

  1. A letter detailing the details of the conference and your contribution (max. 2 pages);
  2. The Applicant’s CV, including recent publications (max. 1 page);

Additionally (if available): 3. Full paper; 4. The most recent conference booklet or leaflet / conference program (especially if the Applicant is listed); 5. The invitation from the Organizers (for a keynote presentation, etc.).

Application process

The ITC conference grant evaluation procedure has been approved through e-vote by COST LEAD-ME ITC Grant committee. The procedure is as follows:

Pre-evaluation

Your application will be first evaluated by the Editorial Committee and by the ITC Conference Grants Manager. Then, if the remaining budget allows to provide funding it will be submitted for approval by the Action Chair. Priority will be given to applications that support the objectives of the Working Packages.

It is expected that each ITC grantee will send a copy of their presentation/poster/paper to the ITC Conference Grants Manager of the LEAD-ME Action. It will be then disseminated using the official LEAD-ME website, social media, etc. The material must be submitted to the ITC Conference Grants Manager by email shortly after the conference. Photographic material from the conference (e.g. the Applicant with the LEAD-ME logo in background) will be requested.

With any further questions please contact Chris Hughes (ITC Grant coordinator)

Past Calls

2nd Call for applications: LEAD-ME short-term scientific missions (STSMs)

Short-term scientific missions are exchange visits for researchers within the LEAD-ME Action. Individuals can spend up to one month at an institution or laboratory based in a different country which is also part of the Action. This is a unique opportunity to receive funding for implementing a project with an international team where the STMS grantees can gain new knowledge and skills in media accessibility or access equipment or techniques that are not available in their home institution. A typical outcome of these missions are publications that will contribute to the impact and visibility of the LEAD-ME COST Action. Applicants are encouraged to review the on-going activities of the COST action and the previous training programme to align their STSM submission. Applications from participants interested in testing with end users with disabilities are welcomed.

The second LEAD-ME STSMs call for applications is open from 20 September until 29 September.

We are offering grants for a maximum of 1000 euros each.

The STSM should be completed, including the report submission, before 29 October 2022.

The applications received will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The required documentation is:

To apply for a grant, you need to:

1st Call for applications: LEAD-ME short-term scientific missions (STSMs)

Short-term scientific missions are exchange visits for researchers within the LEAD-ME Action. Individuals can spend up to six months at an institution or laboratory based in a different country which is also part of the Action. This is a unique opportunity to receive funding for implementing a project with an international team where the STMS grantees can gain new knowledge and skills in media accessibility or access equipment or techniques that are not available in their home institution. A typical outcome of these missions are publications that will contribute to the impact and visibility of the LEAD-ME COST Action. Applicants are encouraged to review the on-going activities of the COST action and the previous training programme to align their STSM submission. Applications from participants interested in eye-tracking, media accessibility towards measuring quality and similar topics are welcomed.

The first LEAD-ME STSMs call for applications is open from 09 May until 27 May.

We are offering two grants for a maximum of 2,500 euros each.

The STSM should be completed, including the report submission, before 09 October 2022.

The applications received will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The required documentation is:

To apply for a grant, you need to:

For further information, please contact STSM coordinator Chris Hughes (C.J.Hughes@salford.ac.uk) or Grant Award Coordinator Anna Matamala (anna.matamala@uab.cat).