Short Term Scientific Missions and Virtual Mobilities Grant

COST aims to exchange visits which support researchers’ individual mobility, strengthen existing networks and foster collaboration. Our CA18214 has promoted both Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) and Virtual Networking Tools.

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, 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. STSMs are considered a great opportunity for participants to focus their work in research interests that have been highlighted by WGs or introduce new ones in light of the COST Action objectives.

The STSMs calls in the following  grant periods are usually uploaded on the news section of this website. For info please contact the STSM leader Eva Belvončíková (eva.belvoncikova@euba.sk).

In the second grant period (2021), 8 colleagues undertook a Short Term Scientific Mission:

1. Mariachiara Barzotto from University of Bath, (Bath, United Kingdom) to Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy 07/02 – 07/04/202, has mainly worked on the survey addressed to coworking spaces worldwide. She researched the studies that have been developed in the past 5-10 years and has analysed their results, when available. She also explored the methodologies to be adopted to describe the results.This STSM contributes to the second Working Group (WG) of the COST Action and to the third WG with the objective to: 1) study the impact of the Covid and to understand the post-Covid situation and potentials of such spaces, with a focus on the peripheral and remote areas and 2) to structure a quantitative methodology for analysing the direct and indirect effects of NSW.
2. Anastasia Sinitsyna from University of Tartu (Tartu, Estonia) to Norwegian University of Life Sciences 16/8 – 29/08/2021 concentrated mainly on the ID country profiles concerning location determinants, typology and differences across the countries with deep focus on the periphery. She has cooperated on the study of hybridity both in secondary introductory research as well as primary research in the NWSs in the Oslo area. Both outputs significantly contribute to the WG 1.3 and WG 1.4. as described above (see D1.3. and D1.4.). This Norwegian experience offered Anastasia the opportunity to strengthen ties between her domestic and visiting universities, to work in an interdisciplinary environment and to publish primary research results in the near future.  Anastasia shared her insights regarding the current situation of New Working Spaces in Estonia. Such knowledge spillover served as a ground for Estonia- Norway comparativeness and gave the rise of new ideas regarding potential joined research.
3. Oliver Rafaj from University of Economics in Bratislava, (Bratislava, Slovakia) to Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic 07/07 – 28/07/2021. The STSM was devoted to the creation of a detailed database of all NWSs in Visegrad 4 countries. He collected data for 6 types of NWS within cities with more than 20 000 inhabitants. The grantee searched for data via Google and his findings were crosschecked and supplemented with available databases from respective countries As a result of his STSM, a joint database of indicators for more than 800 identified NWS was elaborated. Based on data on the establishment and closure of individual NWS, this database is helpful to examine the dynamic development of NWS in different locations and time. His STSM has also provided a good ground floor for future research collaboration between UTB in Zlín, EUBA in Bratislava and Jagiellonian University in Cracow.
4. Lukáš Danko from Tomas Bata University in Zlin (Zlín, Czech Republic) to University of Economics in Bratislava, Slovakia 23/8 – 07/09/2021 continued in the analysis of the location patterns of the NWSs in V4 countries along with activities with the aim to address direct and indirect (primarily non-financial performance with activities) effects of NWSs with MC members at UEBA. He collected data from CSs in Prague with the focus on the pre-pandemic period and how it changed during the pandemic via web pages and social media. His STSM followed a research collaboration between UTB in Zlín, EUBA in Bratislava and Jagiellonian University in Cracow set up by Oliver Rafaj (UEBA). Lukas linked with the transdisciplinary team in EUBA and examined knowledge strategies of CSs as a part of assessing direct effects of NWS summarized in an international book chapter. His STSM helped to extend the network in research and kick-start collaboration on joint papers for Atlas of NWS.
5. Carles Méndez-Ortega from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain) to Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland 01/07-18/07/2021, has worked on the compilation and development of the CSs database (Database #3) provided by all countries belonging to the CA (contribution to D1.3) and in the identification of location patterns and colocation strategies of CSs at city and regional level for some cities and countries in Europe (contribution to D.1.4).
6. Thomas Vogl from Bauhaus-University Weimar (Weimar, Germany) to Jagiellonian University in Krakow, 31/08-17/09/2021. The purpose of his short-term scientific mission was related to deliverable D.1.4 on location patterns and factors of NeWSps in Europe by the example of Coworking in Germany. Therefore, he collected information on CSs from accessible databases and combined them with statistical data through desk research. In the course of a transdisciplinary approach, he assigned the identified CSs to location categorization models from the real estate economy on the one hand and urban planning on the other and compared those two perspectives. Subsequently, quantitative data was evaluated and an interactive map was created. The result of his research showed geographical and statistical location patterns of CSs in general, and in particular for peripheral areas in Germany. He revealed that the role of peripheral areas in attracting CSs is significant in Germany. Thomas has also collected the forms for German hybrid NeWSps (D.1.4).
7. Uglješa Stankov from University of Novi Sad, (Novy Sad, Serbia) to DINÂMIA’CET, Centre for Socioeconomic and Territorial Studies, Lisbon, Portugal 12/10/ – 21/10/2021 The STSMs’ main goal was to explore, evaluate, and analyse CW databases developed by teams in Portugal and Serbia. Because of the area’s specifics, a special emphasis is placed on the analysis of CWs in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA), as well as on finding and examining the forms of CWs in rural peripheries in both Portugal and Serbia. Furthermore, the indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on CWs in LMA were investigated. This STSM contributed to the action by developing a European comparative perspective and assessment of practices of CWs phenomenon (taxonomy, location determinants, and mapping) in two partner countries, by leveraging the different disciplinary perspectives of both host and sending institutions. Participation in STMS not only helped to disseminate existing information about new working spaces in Portugal, which has a much richer NWS tradition than Serbia, but it also increased the STSM participant’s transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary interaction. Two scientific papers will be submitted in the following time based on the study done.
8. Katarzyna Wojnar from the University of Warsaw (Warsaw, Poland) to Norwegian University of Life Sciences 11/10 – 25/10/2021. The STSM was devoted to editing a compilation and summary of national, regional and urban case studies on location patterns and factors of co-working spaces. With regard to deliverables tasks included contributing to D.1.4. under WG1 by writing two subchapters. The task was based on a qualitative content analysis assisted by the use of QDA software with structured and open coding. As a result a multi-level comparative analysis was performed showcasing international patterns in location and location factors of co-working spaces.

In the first grant period (2020), two colleagues, Chiara Tagliaro and Irene Manzini Ceinar, have been the first two COST members (WG members) in Short Term Scientific Mission.

1. Chiara Tagliaro, postdoctoral researcher (33 years old) from Politecnico di Milano (Milan, Italy) to Cornell University (Ithaca, NY, USA), 10/04/2020 to 29/04/2020. Her STSM focused on the development of a comprehensive database of coworking spaces in New York City and a specific investigation on how NWS in small American towns reacted to Covid-19. These tasks offered the opportunity to strengthen transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary synergies, expand knowledge, and boost training actions through joint work with scholars at Cornell University (Ithaca, USA). Multiple co-authored publications have been written and the Training School – Summer School on Workplace Management (SSWM-2020) was organized in partnership with Cornell. Chiara Tagliaro succeeded in engaging in a community of American scholars attracted to research on NWS, familiarizing with the approach and methods applied by Cornell researchers, developing a comparative perspective on CSs in the USA and in Europe, collaborating in scientific production, and expanding the personal network of the travelling scholar.
2. Irene Manzini Ceinar PhD student from University College London (London, UK) to Politecnico di Milano (Milan, Italy), 11/02/2020 to 25/04/2020. Within the STSM, Irene conducted a comparative analysis on CSs in Europe (i.e. definition, development, glossary, taxonomy, location determinants). The work consisted of firstly, the creation of the London and Milan database and geolocation of CSs. Secondly, being involved in the data collection phase with Politecnico and Cattolica University – the project consisted of a series of interviews and group discussions with managers, users and experts in the coworking field worldwide, via Facebook, during the first phase of the pandemic. The STSM grant and the involvement in the COST Action research project opened up perspectives on the Italian context while exploring the topic of coworking from different angles. Furthermore, the STSM period enhanced transversal collaborations and synergies,  expanding knowledge on the topic and comparing it with the UK situation. Irene Manzini Ceinar contributed to multiple co-authored publications while having the opportunity to participate in the Summer School on Workplace Management (SSWM-2020), and expanding the personal network of scholars that benefits her current PhD pathway.

Their inspiring videos are available HERE!

Virtual Mobilities Management and Grants 2022

1. Ilaria Mariotti, DAStU, Politecnico di Milano, VM management
2. Gislene Feiten Haubrich, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, VM grantee for WG4
3. Liliia Mitina, Kyiv IT Cluster, VM grantee for Ukraine Project
4. Blanca Monni, Betahaus, Berlin, VM grantee for Ukraine Project

Virtual Mobilities Management and Grants 2021

1. Ilaria Mariotti (IT) Virtual management The Chair Ilaria Mariotti has achieved the grant to manage the six virtual networking tools in all their phases. The grant has been devolved to the Grant Holder budget.The strategy on virtual networking tools included: (1) the development of opening call; (2) the management of the evaluation process for awarding (max 6) Virtual Mobility Grants; (3) supporting and advising beneficiaries of the Virtual Mobility Grants. The CA18214 has benefited from developing virtual networking activities because they have allowed the Action to progress towards its objectives and deliverables. Specifically, the virtual mobility grants have developed the following deliverable: D1.3, D1.4, and D2.1. The beneficiaries of the Virtual Mobility grant have been supported and advised in all phases. Finally, the virtual networking support grant manager developed and managed a plan for coordinating and reporting all the planned COST Action CA18214 events that have been held online: from WG meetings, to the MC meeting.
2. Lenka Smekalova from Tomas Bata University in Zlin (Zlín, Czech Republic) 10/08 – 10/10/2021. The mobility was concerned with conducting a survey on policies and planning guidelines related to new working spaces. Within the scope of the mobility the survey was presented to CA members, launched, and answers about individual policies were collected. This activity directly contributed to forming the basis of CA18214 deliverable D3.1 – Database of WG3 findings: policy and planning guidelines concerning new workplaces and peripheral areas. The individual entries were contributed by the members of CA, consulted, and corrected by the grantee of virtual mobility.
3. Anastasia Sinitsyna from University of Tartu (Tartu, Estonia) 01.07-31.08.2021. Virtual mobility was granted for conducting the preparation stage of the ID profile analysis. During the grant period, data received from Cost Action members was summarized and aggregated into a single data set. Later it was decoded into the format suitable for further analysis and visually presented. In addition, under the virtual mobility grant, the communication and online discussions with other Cost Action members were covered. Both activities contributed directly to the deliverable D1.3 findings and location factors database creation.
4. Italian coworking (IT) Michele Lo Russo from Italiancoworking has received the virtual networking tool grant, which has allowed him to develop together with other MC members the survey addressed to coworking managers in Italy. Michele has a deep experience about surveys that he has shared with the Members of the CA18214. This survey has been designed to be further addressed to coworking managers worldwide. Besides, Michele has advertised the survey on social media, and he has contacted via email and partially by phone all managers. The results of the survey will be given to the WG2 leader, the Chair and some CA18214 members that will analyze them.
5. Marco Hölzel from the Technical University Munich  (GE) received a Virtual Mobility (VM) Grant (10/2021) to conceptualize innovative and more connected research activities in WG2, to forster the engagement of WG2 members and to create a broader dataset to develop the deliverable 2.1. Marco worked closely together with the Leader of WG2 on the initiative and collection of research from the members of the workgroup to draw the ATLAS of best practice and effects of New Working Spaces. The new initiative will be spread among the workgroup members within the next weeks.
6. Chiara Tagliaro (IT) from the Politecnico di Milano (Milan, IT) received a VM Grant from 26/07/2021 to 05/09/2021 which entailed the advancement of the activities of WG4, including: the finalization of the Research Gate page of the Action, contact with the Communication Office of Politecnico di Milano to plan a press release in the next Grant Period, and the kickoff of the first podcast series of this COST Action. Chiara achieved the goals of this VM thanks to the collaboration with Gislene Haubrich, Emannuel Costa, and Mina di Marino.
7. Mina Akhavan (IT) from Politecnico di Milano received a VM Grant for the period 05/07/2021 to 05/09/2021. Within the framework of the WG2 tasks, during this period, she worked on finalising the first WG2 working paper together with the vice-leaders. Moreover, to collaborate with other WGs, in particular with the WG4 member Emannuel Costa (based in Brazil), to help prepare the entire programme for the six podcasts on the series based on the topic of the working paper which I completed during this virtual mobility period. The first podcast will come out by the end of September 2021.