Building bridges: How COST short-term scientific missions enhance research collaborations

For many years, COST Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) have played a crucial role in the COST framework by providing researchers with a valuable tool for deepening their connections with other institutions and researchers. STSMs allow researchers to visit organisations and institutions in other countries around the world for the purpose of training, collaboration, and exchange of scientific knowledge and expertise. This is especially important for young researchers from Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs). By increasing exposure and access to new opportunities, these researchers can benefit greatly from the STSMs.

One of the unique features of STSMs is that they are open to applicants from all career stages. Additionally, STSMs are a highly flexible COST instrument, allowing for a wide range of options in terms of host selection, thematic focus, and activities conducted.

On a yearly basis, over 2000 STSMs are organised all over Europe and beyond.

Recently, to better understand STSMs and their contributions to the Actions, the COST Association commissioned Technopolis to conduct an Impact Assessment Study on Short-Term Mobility, which was carried out between March and October 2022. This study assessed 44 STSMs of diverse characteristics and duration, through interviewing the researchers involved in the research stays.

The study found that STSMs are utilised for a diverse range of activities and goals, including discussions on research topics, networking opportunities between the grantee and researchers at the host institute, collaborative research, learning new methods, and using the host institution’s research infrastructure. The study also observed that, although STSMs predominantly contribute to the individual beneficiary’s work, they can have impact for several parties involved:

At the individual level

STSMs result in improved research quality, and expanded research topics. For example, the basic research conducted during one STSM resulted in data that helped the grantee to kickstart own experimental work within their research group. The material that was produced during the STSM with the hosts’ equipment was  fundamental and essential for the start of experimental research in the new postdoc position, especially against the background of lacking equipment in a newly built laboratory.

At the host institution level

STSMs can result in new research projects and proposals, data sharing, and distribution of a research method. For example, one of the hosts found it important to have a leading figure from the field present in the department, serving as an inspiration for the PhD students, creating visibility for the topic inside the university but also connecting to  a broader group of colleagues  at the institution. Concretely, more applications from PhD students were received after the visit; moreover, the STSM led to mor exchanges between the host institution and the grantee institution.

At The COST Action Level

STSMs improve the quality of COST Action outputs and strengthen connections between participants. The concrete results are sometimes shared with the wider COST Action community or contribute directly to COST Action deliverables. Joint publications between the visiting researcher and host were also commonly cited as important outcomes. In one case, the work conducted during the STSM was instrumental for developing a research agenda. In the context of this agenda, 15 papers were planned, and of those, 10 have already been written.

“The STSMs are a key networking tool, providing thousands of researchers with an invaluable experience cooperating with peer researchers. We are happy that this assessment underlines the value of STSMs to the Actions. Through our philosophy of Action stewardship, COST will continue supporting the Actions in organising STSMs efficaciously and with optimal impact” said Dr Elwin Reimink, Data and Impact Analysis Officer at COST.

The study recommends COST Actions to maintain flexibility for researchers, organise STSMs at an early stage of the Action, have different types of STSMs depending on the timing, and consider the process for determining STSM topics.

Specifically, the study suggests adopting a conscious choice between top-down or bottom-up approaches. The former approach ensures high relevance and congruence with the Action’s objectives, while the latter can help to determine STSM topics. In conclusion, the study confirms that COST STSMs are a valuable tool in enhancing research collaborations and knowledge exchange. They can have a profound impact on individual researchers, host institutions and COST Actions, and provide opportunities for researchers from ITCs.

This article was first published on 1 March by COST.