NetSec funds five types of networking grants to support mobility, conference participation, and virtual collaboration across European security studies. Calls are open to the wider research community, not just Action participants, see each grant's eligibility for details.
Applications go through e-COST, sign in and select Action CA24154. Only the five schemes below are funded by NetSec; other grant types you may see in the portal aren't, and will be rejected if applied for.
Grant types
Mobility
Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM)
Supports a working visit to a host organisation in another country, for specific research carried out over a defined period, collaborating, using facilities, building new partnerships. The host must be in a different country than the applicant’s.
Amount€ 2 100
ActivityIn-person visitto a host in another country
LocationAnywhereworldwide
Eligibility
Open to anyone affiliated in a COST Member country or NNC, regardless of career stage.
The host organisation must be in a different country than the applicant’s affiliation.
The visit supports the Action’s objectives and the applicant’s career development.
Up to 50 % advance payment may be released after awarding (STSM only, other grant types pay in full after the activity).
If two or more STSM grantees share the same host, they must submit original (non-identical) scientific reports.
The virtual counterpart of an STSM, structured collaboration with a host organisation in another country, conducted online. Same goals (research partnership, career development, achieving the Action’s objectives), no travel.
Amount€ 1 300
ActivityVirtual collaborationwith a host in another country
LocationWorldwideonline, no travel
Eligibility
Open to anyone affiliated in a COST Member country or NNC.
Collaboration with a host in a different country than the applicant’s affiliation.
The deliverable benefits both the grantee and the Action.
For Young Researchers and Innovators (under 40 at the time of application) to present their own research, either as an oral talk or a poster, at a conference within the Action’s scope. Builds visibility for the next generation of European security scholars.
Amount€ 1 200
ActivityOral or posteryour own work
LocationAnywhereface-to-face or virtual
Eligibility
Action participants, under 40 years old at the time of application.
Accepted to present (oral or poster) own work within the scope of the Action.
Affiliated in any participating country.
No overlap with another COST grant or meeting for the same activity.
On the e-COST portal, this application is visible only to applicants under 40.
Supports researchers based in Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs) to present their own work, within the scope of the Action, at an external conference. The goal is to widen geographic participation and help individual careers along the way.
Amount€ 1 200
Available4 grantsacross the Action
ActivityOral presentationof your own research
LocationAnywhereface-to-face or virtual
Eligibility
Action participants affiliated in ITCs or Near Neighbour Countries.
Accepted to give an oral presentation of your own work, within the scope of the Action.
No overlap with another COST grant or meeting for the same activity.
On the e-COST portal, this application is visible only to applicants affiliated in an ITC.
Supports an Action participant who is presenting the Action’s results (its work, activities, or collective findings) at an external conference, boosting NetSec’s visibility, attracting new participants, and disseminating outputs to the wider field.
Amount€ 1 250
ActivityOral presentationof the Action’s work
LocationAnywhereface-to-face or virtual
Eligibility
Action participants affiliated in COST Member countries or Near Neighbour Countries (NNCs).
Accepted to give an oral presentation of the Action’s work, results, or activities (a poster or your own unrelated research doesn’t qualify, see ITC / YRI grants below).
No overlap with another COST grant or meeting for the same activity (no double funding).
Every grant follows the same e-COST workflow, from application to payment. Steps 1–4 happen before the activity; step 5 is the activity itself; steps 6–7 happen after.
Application Before
You submit your application through e-COSTbefore the planned activity starts. Late starts are not eligible.
Evaluation Before
The Grant Awarding Coordinator and the Grant Evaluation Committee assess applications against criteria set by the Management Committee.
Approval Before
The GAC approves or rejects the grant in e-COST. Rejected applications revert to draft status, you can edit and resubmit.
Awarding Letter Before
The Grant Holder Manager issues the Grant Awarding Letter. You can now go ahead with bookings (and for STSMs only, request up to 50 % advance payment).
— Activity window —
Activity During
You carry out the visit, presentation, virtual collaboration, etc., within the approved dates and scope.
Reporting After
Not later than 30 days after completion, submit a scientific report (and any supporting evidence) through e-COST.
Payment After
The GAC approves the report; the Grant Holder Manager releases the (remaining) payment.
Important to know
Three rules that catch applicants off-guard most often.
Open access
Publications and other research outputs that result from a NetSec grant must be made open access, in line with COST's policy. Acknowledge COST Action CA24154 and use the COST + EU funding statement per the Visual Identity Guide.
No double funding
You can't combine a NetSec grant with another COST grant or meeting reimbursement for the same activity. e-COST will warn you of overlaps at submission time.
Avoid conflict of interest
A grant can be awarded to any Action participant (including the Action Chair or the Grant Awarding Coordinator), but the recipient must not participate in the decision-making for their own application.
Grant Managers
For questions about eligibility, application timing, or how to interpret a specific call, get in touch with the Grant Awarding Coordinators before submitting.
Grant Awarding Coordinator
Dr Eliza Gheorghe
Bilkent University, Türkiye
Grant Awarding Co-Lead
Dr Chiara Libiseller
King's College London, United Kingdom
Resources & reference documents
All authoritative documents are hosted by the COST Association.
