The COCAG Action is pleased to launch its open call for grant award applications for 2026.

There are five types of grants available at this time:  

1. Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) Grant funds a visit to a host organisation located in a different country than the country of affiliation by a researcher or innovator for specific work to be carried out over a defined period of time (max 4,000 €).
2. Dissemination Conference Grants (DCG) grant funds an oral presentation by an Action Participant of the work of the Action in a high-level conference fully organised by a third party, i.e. not organised nor co-organised by the COST Action (max 2500 € for face-to-face conferences, max 500 € for online conferences).
3. YRI Conference Grants funds a presentation (poster/oral presentation) of their own work by a Young Researcher and Innovator (YRI) in a high-level conference fully organized by a third party, i.e. not organized nor co-organized by the COST Action (max 2500 € for face-to-face conferences, max 500 € for online conferences).
4. ITC Conference Grants grant funds an oral presentation of participants own work within the scope of the Action by an Action Participant affiliated to a legal entity located in an Inclusiveness Target Country / Near Neighbour Country in a high-level conference fully organized by a third party, i.e. not organized nor co-organized by the COST Action (max 2500 € for face-to-face conferences, max 500 € for online conferences).
5. Virtual Mobility Grants (VMG) consist of a collaboration in an online setting among researchers or innovators within the COST Action to exchange knowledge, learn new techniques, etc. VMGs aims to develop capacity in online collaboration and networking in a pan-European framework. Examples can be virtual mentoring schemes, harmonisation and standardisation of methods, and research coordination-related activities (max 1500 €). 

Please find more information about the Grant application process and application templates here. See the Annotated rules for COST Actions for more information on the Grants here. 

The call will run through the year until June 1st 2026, with intermediary deadlines on the following dates. Applications will be assessed on these dates, and applicants will be notified within two weeks after the intermediary deadlines: 

December 12th 2025

February 2nd 2026

March 16th 2026

June 1st 2026 (last opportunity for COCAG Grant in the fiscal year of 2026)

Activities should not normally commence sooner than one month after the deadline.

For more information on COCAG grant awards and evaluation criteria, contact grant awards coordinators Ingrid Bårdsdatter Bakke (ingrid.bardsdatter.bakke@inn.no) or Marijana Matijaš (mmatijas@unicath.hr). For technical help with the application, contact COST support services.  

* Please note that, alongside applicant eligibility (e.g. COST membership), applications will be assessed based on how well the project fits within COCAG’s scope and the quality of the project plan or conference. We refer to the COCAG position paper outlining the scope and topics for COCAG. The Grant Awards may also consider inclusion, particularly for early-career researchers (within five years of completing their PhD) or those in marginalised or precarious positions (e.g., in terms of gender, contract type, or socio-economic background). Please ensure that you explain how your project aligns with the scope, its quality, and any relevant inclusion aspects in the corresponding section of your application.