The COSLAB Programme closed in December 2006 and it is no longer possible to submit an applicatin for a grant
HOW TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION
Select and Fill in the online forms below:
For Short Visits: Application form
Exchange Grants: Application form
Guidelines for Short Visits and Exchange Grants (PDF 35 KB)
ESF grants are offered to enable scientists, both pre-doctoral and postdoctorals to cooperate in different European countries. The ESF supports two types of grants:
1. Short visit grants of up to 15 days
2. Exchange grants, from 15 days to six months renewable
Eligibility
COSLAB grants are intended to initiate or strengthen links between different research groups.
Therefore the applicant has to
1. Undertake work applicable to the Programme
2. Apply to stay in a European country other than the country of origin
3. Return to the institution of origin upon termination, so that the applicant’s institution may also benefit from the broadened knowledge of the scientist
4. Acknowledge ESF in publications resulting from the grantee’s work in relation with the Exchange Grant
Priority will be given to applications where the institutions involved are in countries that financially support the ESF Programme. In the case of COSLAB this concerns Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
ESF supports grants for activities within ESF Programmes. Individual conference participation is NOT supported.
Target Audience
Short visits: these are intended to establish or enhance links between institutes in different countries. Priority will be given to senior scientists involved in the programme collaboration.
Exchange grants: for young scientists these are intended primarily for experimentalists to work at another laboratory, although applications from theorists will also be considered. These will normally be for one month, but may be longer in exceptional cases.
Grants do not cover salaries.
Levels of Awards
Short visit grants are reimbursed, on a per diem basis of 85 EUR plus actual travel expenses up to a maximum of 500 EUR after the visit on submission of a completed balance payment form accompanied by the original travel tickets.
Exchange grants are reimbursed on the basis of an allowance of 1600EUR per month/400EUR per week/57EUR per day plus actual costs for travel, up to a maximum of 500EUR.
Lower levels of support than those indicated above may be allocated. It may also be appropriate to allocate only partial support in certain cases.
ESF grants do not cover health insurance, taxes, or retirement scheme contributions.
Applications
Applicants are invited to fill in the electronic application form (see "How to submit a grant application").
Exchange Grants should be supported by a letter of recommendation from someone familiar with the applicant’s work, a letter of acceptance from the host at the receiving institution and a curriculum vitae of two A4 pages. These letters can be emailed in advance to the Chair and to the ESF liaison officer, but the original should be sent by post to the Chair.
Both Exchange Grant applicants and Short Visit Grant applicants must provide a short description of the proposed project work (about 1000 words for Exchange Grants) and (about 250 words for Short Visit Grants).
If the application is successful, the grantee receives a letter with the electronic address of the acceptance form (in preparation) that he/she must fill in order to receive 80% of the allowance as advance payment.
At the end of the visit the grantee should fill in electronic balance payment form (in preparation) and attach a file with the scientific report in order to get the final payment. In case of cancellation or unreasonable delay (six months or more), all advances must be returned to the ESF. If the length of the stay is shorter than the foreseen period, the grantee should reimburse the ESF the amount of unspent funds.
Evaluation of Scientific Reports
All reports should be submitted by the due date indicated in the letter of award, to the Chair of the Programme, or an alternative contact if indicated, with a copy to the ESF Liaison Officer. All reports will be evaluated within the Programme, normally by the sub-group delegated to recommend the awards, and if necessary using external peer review. Statistics concerning the number of reports due, received and their quality will be kept. Unless other arrangements are agreed, the contents of reports will be considered as being in the "public domain" and may be used, suitably acknowledged, in the compilation of reports submitted by the Programme to ESF.
Deadlines
There is no deadline; applications are dealt with on a rolling basis.
Applicants can generally expect a decision within 4 weeks of submission of an application.
Visits must take place within 6 months of approval.
