Third 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 two key locations for the event:

1. May 14th ● Grauwzusters Campus ● Klooster van de Grauwzusters. Gebouw S Lange Sint-Annastraat 7, 2000 Antwerpen
2. May 15th ● Groenenborger Campus ● Gebouw U.247 Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen
3. May 16th – Technical visit. The bus will depart from ● Campus Groenenborger ● and we will visit: ILVO Food Pilot and Axabio

From Wageningen University

Traveling from Wageningen University to Antwerp is straightforward and can be done via a combination of train and bus or car.

By Public Transportation (Train and Bus):

1. Bus from Wageningen to Ede-Wageningen Train Station: Take Bus 88 from Wageningen Campus to Ede-Wageningen Train Station. The bus ride takes approximately 20 minutes, with frequent departures.
2. Train from Ede-Wageningen to Antwerp: From Ede-Wageningen Train Station, take an NS Intercity train to Rotterdam Centraal. At Rotterdam Centraal, transfer to a Thalys or Intercity train bound for Antwerp Central Station. Total train travel time: approximately 2.5–3 hours. For schedules and ticket purchases: NS Dutch Railways and Belgian Train.

By Car

1. Driving Route: Distance: ~145 km (~90 miles). Estimated travel time: 1.5–2 hours, depending on traffic. Route: Follow the A15 highway towards Rotterdam, then take the A16/E19 towards Antwerp.If you plan to park in Antwerp, use one of the city’s park-and-ride (P+R) facilities for easy access to public transport into the city center. Consider carpooling or shared shuttle services like Blablacar for a budget-friendly and flexible option.

From Brussels Airport (Luchthaven Brussel):

Brussels Airport is the closest and most convenient option for reaching Antwerp. It offers a variety of transportation options to ensure smooth connectivity:

1. Train (Recommended): A train station is located directly within the airport. Direct trains run to Antwerp Central or Berchem station, with an average journey time of 30 minutes. Trains depart every hour, and a ticket costs €14.20. For schedules and ticket purchases: Belgian Train Website.
2. Taxi Services and Ride-Sharing Apps: Taxis and ride-share options like Uber are available outside the airport terminals for a direct transfer to Antwerp.
3. Public Buses:Several bus routes connect the airport to Antwerp, offering a budget-friendly alternative for travelers.

From Charleroi Airport:

Reaching Antwerp from Charleroi Airport requires slightly more travel time, but there are straightforward options available:

1. Shuttle Bus (Recommended): A direct shuttle bus operates every two hours. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, with a ticket cost of €20.

Getting Around Antwerp: Transportation Guide

1. Trams and Buses (Operated by De Lijn)

Antwerp’s trams and buses provide extensive coverage across the city and its suburbs. They are a convenient way to travel between the city center and Campus Groenenborger.

Recommended Routes: Tram Line 9; Bus Lines 21, 15, or 33

Tickets and Passes: Single-Ride tickets or day passes.

Where to Buy Tickets: Use the De Lijn app to purchase tickets (the cheapest option) and check real-time routes. Tickets can also be purchased at vending machines or on-board, though additional fees may apply.

2. Velo Antwerpen Bike-Sharing

For a more active and flexible option, Velo Antwerpen provides a city-wide bike-sharing service with over 300 stations, including ones conveniently located near both UAntwerpen campuses.

How It Works:

1. Purchase a Pass: Choose a day, week, or annual pass online or via the Velo app.
2. Locate a Bike: Use the app to find nearby stations with available bikes.
3. Ride: Take a bike and enjoy your journey through Antwerp’s bike-friendly streets.
4. Return the Bike: Drop it off at any Velo station near your destination.

Pricing: Day Pass: €5 for unlimited short trips (30 minutes each). Week Pass: €10 for 7 days of unlimited short trips.Tips:

• Dedicated bike lanes make cycling a safe and enjoyable option in Antwerp.
• Cycling between the city center and Campus Groenenborger is a great alternative to public transport.

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 150 per day, totalizing EUR 525 per successful applicant.

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

• Up to a maximum of EUR 400 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 Belgium and The Netherlands.

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.