The COST Action CA 22135 DATAMIG (Data Matters: Sociotechnical Challenges of European Migration and Border Control) is a four-year COST Action running between 2023 and 2027. DATAMIG focuses on the datafication of migration and border control, which cannot be understood merely as a technical matter. It reconfigures practices and rationalities of migration and border control, it fosters new transnational alliances between academics and civil society actors, and it raises contentious issues linked to datafied migration and border control, such as transparency and accountability. DATAMIG builds on an extensive body of scholarship, insights and experiences. It sets up an integrated research framework, ensures up-to-date research, it keeps track of the highly dynamic and increasingly transnational field of datafied migration and border control, and it fosters research strategies and methodologies that engage critically with securitized, racialized and increasingly violent datafied borders. For further details, see the Memorandum of Understanding – MoU and the Action DATMIG website.
Virtual Mobility (VM) grants consist of a collaboration in an online setting among researchers within the COST Action, to exchange knowledge, learn new techniques, capacity building and new skills, particularly for young researchers. Virtual Mobility grants support capacity building and transfer of knowledge through bilateral/multilateral collaborations; support specific / general topics that can help achieving the Action MoU objectives and deliverables; are very flexible and inclusive networking activities crucial to establish new collaborations or reinforce existing collaborations across disciplines with possible impact on career development; outcomes contribute to the visibility and impact of the COST Actions. VM grantees work on outputs and deliverables of the COST Action, together with a collaborator, who is also a member of the COST Action. The collaborator’s role is to support the grantee by 2-3 meetings to accompany the work progress. Applicants can be researchers (we are encouraging applications from early career researchers, doctoral students or postdoctoral researchers). Up to a maximum of EUR 1300 in total can be afforded to each successful applicant (see details below).
The following topics indicate areas of research of high relevance at the current stage of the Cost Action DATAMIG work. We invite submissions for VMs that suggest collaborations across DATAMIG members with one grantee per VM and at least one or more collaborators who support the grantee. The VMs are dedicated to grantees who contribute to the realization of DATAMIG deliverables. We hereby invite contributions to the following topics:
- A synthetic review of the state-of-the-art research on the connection between technology-borders/migration-disability, to inform/enrich the DATAMIG research agenda through the integration of perspectives from disability studies.
- A synthetic review of the state-of-the-art research on the connection between technology-borders/migration-health, to inform/enrich the DATAMIG research agenda through the integration of perspectives from health studies.
- A synthetic review of the state-of-the-art research on the connection between technology-borders/migration and maritime legal regimes, to inform/enrich the DATAMIG research agenda through the integration of perspectives from legal studies. The review may examine both historical and contemporary legal frameworks governing mobility across maritime spaces, including jurisdiction, search and rescue, border enforcement, pushbacks, deportations, shipwrecks and state responsibility.
- A synthetic review of the state-of-the-art research on the connection between technology-borders/migration and the politics of border governance, to inform/enrich the DATAMIG research agenda through the integration of perspectives from political science. The review may explore how different political regimes and forms of governance have shaped the regulation of mobility, borders and migration over time, with particular attention to sovereignty, securitization, externalization, international cooperation and geopolitical transformations.
- A synthetic review of the state-of-the-art research on the connection between technology-borders/migration and the ethical and political dimensions of mobility, to inform/enrich the DATAMIG research agenda through the integration of perspectives from philosophy. The review may engage with philosophical debates on justice, responsibility, hospitality, freedom of movement, exclusion and human rights, while considering how these questions have evolved across different historical periods and migration contexts.
- A synthetic review of organizations/institutions/institutes/initiatives/archives that produce material/archives of relevance to the research of the members of the DATAMIG network.
- Αn inventory of the publications of the members of the DATAMIG research network, clustered according to topics/themes/issues.
- Αn inventory of research projects that include participation of DATAMIG members that are funded (or were funded in the last 5 years) by national and international institutions/agencies/organizations.
- A mapping/visualization of the DATAMIG research network and its actions/initiatives/products.
Application process
Each VM applicant can receive:
- An amount between up to EUR 1300 in total can be afforded to the grantee (for a work that takes up to 5,5 days based on a calculation of EUR 200/day). The grant is a flat-rate contribution intended to cover the time and resources invested by the grantee in virtual collaboration. It does not require receipts or expense reports.
During the VM period, neither the COST Association nor the Grant Holder may be considered as an employer. The grantees must make their own arrangements for all health, social, personal security, taxation and pension matters.
All applicants must carefully read the funding rules detailed in the Annotated Rules for COST Actions and the Q&As.
All applicants must have an updated e-COST profile and be a member of the respective Working Group.
Please submit your application by, 26 August 2026:
- online via e-COST:
- Data entry: Basic information (grant title, amount requested, start and end date (latest end date: 30 September 2026), collaborating DATAMIG member´s name and institution name)
- Additional upload: Application form (find attached) indicating the goals, explaining the previous engagements and experiences with WG3 and how they prepare the applicant to realize the deliverable
- A description/work plan including the calculation of required working days and amount of the VM to be afforded, the expected outcomes and the contribution to the overall Action objectives / deliverables (1 page)
- Letter of confirmation from a DATAMIG researcher affiliated to the collaborating institution
- CV of the applicant uploaded to the applicant’s e-COST profile.
Please also email the application form, the letter of invitation, the CV and your budget calculation to the responsible for VM, Prof. Vasilis Galis ([email protected]), as well as to the DATAMIG Action Chair, Prof. Aristotle Tympas ([email protected]).
Acceptance notifications will be sent out by 28 August 2026.
VIRTUAL MOBILITY (VM) Grant
- APPLICATION FORM
This form is part of the application for a grant to visit a host organisation located in a different country than the country of affiliation. It is submitted to the COST Action MC via-e-COST. The Grant Awarding Coordinator coordinates the evaluation on behalf of the Action MC and informs the Grant Holder of the result of the evaluation for issuing the Grant Letter.
Action number:
Applicant name:
| Details of the VMTitle:Start and end date: DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY |
| Goals of the VM Purpose and summary of the VM. |
| (max.200 word) Applicant enters max. 200 word summary here. |
| Working Plan Description of the work to be carried out by the applicant. |
| (max.500 word) Applicant enters max. 500 word summary here. |
| Expected outputs and contribution to the COST Action DATAMIG objectives and activities (see call). Main expected results and their contribution to the progress towards the Action objectives (either research coordination and/or capacity building objectives) and deliverables.(max.500 words) Applicant enters max. 500 word summary here. |
