Second Training School

COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology established to initiate networking and coordination of nationally funded research activities on a European level. It facilitates bringing good scientists together under light strategic guidance based on networks, called COST Actions, centred around research projects in fields that are of interest to COST countries and cooperating countries.

The PurpleWeek will take place at NOVA School of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA). As seen in the map, the venue is located on the south side of Tagus River, with Lisbon located on the north side of the river. The airport and some recommended hotels are also highlighted.

Within the NOVA School of Science and Technology campus, the training school event will take place at the Agora Room, in the Library Building (days 15^th and 16^th April) and Auditorio Manuel Laranjeira, Building One (see map below).

Transports at Humberto Delgado Airport, Lisbon

Humberto Delgado Airport, Lisbon is the nearest airport and there is a variety of transportation options to ensure smooth connectivity to and from the airport.

1. Taxi Services and Ride-Sharing Apps:  located outside the terminals.
2. Public Transportation: Lisbon Airport is well-integrated into the city’s public transportation network.
   1. Metro: The red line (linha vermelha) of the Lisbon Metro serves the airport and provides a quick and cost-effective way to reach different parts of Lisbon. Passengers can access the metro station from Terminal 1.
   2. Buses: Various bus routes operate from the airport, serving different areas within Lisbon and its surroundings. Passengers can find bus stops conveniently located outside both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Transports at the venue, Nova School of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA)

When considering your options be aware that Nova School of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA) is not located in the city center of Lisbon but on the south side of the Tagus River. Nevertheless, the campus is easily accessible through several public transportation.

1. Taxi or Ride-Sharing: Taxi and ride-sharing services are readily available in the area. You can use apps like Uber or Bolt to conveniently reach the campus. It takes about 15 to 25 minutes to arrive at FCT NOVA from Lisbon (prices around 15€).* This is the recommended transportation choice for those staying in Lisbon
2. Public Transportation: FCT NOVA is well-connected by public transportation. You can reach the campus by:
   1. Bus: Several bus lines connect the campus with different parts of Lisbon and neighbouring areas. Check the official website of the Carris Metropolitana for detailed bus routes and schedules.
      1. Bus (to Monte da Caparica (FCT)): https://www.carrismetropolitana.pt/planeador/
   2. Train: The nearest train station is Pragal. From there, you can take a bus, taxi or metro to reach FCT NOVA. Trains run frequently from Lisbon’s main stations such as Roma-Areeiro, Entrecampos, Sete Rios and Campolide.
      1. Train (to Pragal): https://www.fertagus.pt/pt/viajar/mapa-de-rede
      2. Metro (to Universidade): https://www.mts.pt/horarios/

Transportation Guide from Mercure Lisboa Almada Hotel and HF Fénix (Lisbon) to FCT NOVA venue

1. From Mercure Lisboa Almada Hotel:

• By Public Transportation: Metro (to Universidade): https://www.mts.pt/horarios/
• 
• Take a short walk (about 4 min.) to the Ramalha metro station, board on the metro heading to Universidade, and exit at the Universidade stop (~15 min).
• Direct buses, taxis or ride-sharing (Uber, Bolt) are also available.Bus (to Monte da Caparica (FCT)): https://www.carrismetropolitana.pt/planeador/

2. From HF Fénix:

For those staying at the HF Fénix hotels (located in Marquês de Pombal, Lisbon), the easiest and direct route to reach FCT NOVA is by using a taxi or a ride-sharing service app such as Uber or Bolt (15 to 25 min).

By public transportation:

Bus (to Monte da Caparica (FCT)): https://www.carrismetropolitana.pt/planeador/

Take a short walk to the bus stop Marquês de Pombal (P6), board on 3709 bus heading towards Costa da Caparica (Terminal) and exit at Monte da Caparica (FCT) stop, which is right in front of FCT NOVA campus.

Besides the 3709 bus, previously mentioned, other buses are heading to Monte da Caparica (FCT) stop, departing nearby the HF Félix hotels easily accessed by metro (blue line from Marques de Pombal or Parque station):

• In Sete Rios and Praça de Espanha, bus 3711 (heading to Monte da Caparica (FCT)
• In Sete Rios and Praça de Espanha, bus 3705 (heading to Charneca da Caparica (centro)
• In Praça de Espanha, bus 3710 (heading to Costa da Caparica (terminal)

The selection criteria for participants that will be eligible for reimbursement will comply with the COST Excellence and Inclusiveness Policy, in the implementation of the Action and will encourage attendance by a diverse selection of participants in consideration of:

1. Underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities. Priority will be given to underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities.
2. Gender balance.
3. The level of involvement of Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs). Priority will be given to participants form Inclusiveness Target Countries. The current list of ITCs include Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
4. The level of involvement of Early Career Investigators (ECIs). Priority will be given to PhD students and young post-doctoral researchers, followed by senior post-doctoral researchers and professors.
5. In addition, Training School organizers may also consider other special attributes such as
   1. Type, or level of expertise in the field of the Workshop based on the curriculum vitae,
   2. Appropriate core knowledge and understanding
   3. Willingness to participate based on the motivation letter
   4. Demonstrated interest based on the motivation letter,
   5. The positive impact that the participants will have on the applicant’s future carrier

Financial support through reimbursement does not necessarily cover all expenses but is a contribution to the overall travel, accommodation and meal expenses. The financial contribution includes a Daily Allowance fee (DA) and travel expenses. The DA is a fixed amount of EUR 100 per day, totalizing EUR 350 per successful applicant.

The travel expenses (distances >100km) for each successful applicant shall respect the following criteria:

• Up to a maximum of EUR 500 in total can be afforded to each successful applicant from ITC country.
• Up to a maximum of EUR 300 in total can be afforded to each successful applicant from non-ITC country.
• Up to a maximum of EUR 100 in total can be afforded to each successful applicant from Portugal.

This financial contribution must be understood as financial aid aimed to help applicants to cover the expenses of their participation in the Training School. This financial aid does not aim to cover 100% of the expenses.

Please see the General Rules to be reimbursed (https://purplegain.eu).

If the amount of reimbursement by all applications within a call does not exceed the available budget, the applications are handled by the selection committee. If there are more applications than funding is available, the following procedure takes place.

1. A list of all applications (containing an informative summary) is distributed to all members of the selection committee in form of a table in which every evaluator can mark which applications he or she can evaluate according to their field of expertise.
2. To guarantee a fair and objective evaluation, an evaluator should have no affiliation with neither the home nor the host institution of the application in question.
3. All applications are evaluated by two members of the selection committee. The Grant Awarding coordinator distributes the proposals to the individual evaluators.
4. The criteria given in the table below shall be applied for evaluation. The first criterion (a) is assessed by the Grant Awarding coordinator prior to the evaluation process.

5. The evaluators report their evaluations to the Grant Awarding coordinator.
6. The Grant Awarding coordinator ranks all evaluations and then reports the final result to the selection committee to be discussed and accepted.
7. The applicants are informed about the decision reached.