Introduction

COST (CO-operation in Science and Technology) is a pan-European intergovernmental framework dedicated to science and technology networking activities aiming at allowing their participants to jointly develop their ideas and new initiatives across all scientific disciplines.

COST mission is to enable breakthrough scientific developments leading to new concepts, services and products and thereby contributing to strengthening European research and innovation capacities. COST aims at enabling fruitful collaborations between researchers, engineers, scholars and other stakeholders and business by providing a natural platform for them to meet and build mutual trust.

Objective of the call

The objective of the call is to enhance the scientific, technological or social excellence and transparency of COST through an accessible bottom-up opportunity. Proposals must contribute to the scientific, technological, economic, cultural or societal knowledge advancement and development of Europe to close the gap between science, policy makers and society. The call is transversal and open to ideas in all fields of Science and Technology and foster multi- and interdisciplinary projects, aiming to enable breakthrough scientific developments leading to new concepts and products.

Eligible activities

The COST projects are implemented through a series of networking tools, such as:

- Meetings (i.e. Management Committee meetings, Working Group meetings);

- Training Schools;

- Short-Term Scientific Missions;

- Dissemination.

Eligible applicants

COST Actions are open to researchers, engineers and scholars or other stakeholders who are affiliated to a university, research centre, company or other relevant non-profit legal entity located in one of the 36 COST Member States or in any of the Near Neighbour Countries (NNCs) or International Partner Countries (IPCs).

The participation of researchers from less research-intensive countries across Europe is required: these countries are denominated Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC), being either an EU Member State or Associated Country to Horizon 2020. The complete list of these categories of countries is available in the call guidelines.

Partnership criteria

The Network must include at least 7 proposers affiliated to entities located in at least 7 different COST Full or Cooperating Members amongst which a minimum number shall be from COST Inclusiveness Target Countries, following the scheme detailed in the annex to the call.

Funding

The financial support averages 130 000 euro per year.

Projects duration

4 years

More information at http://www.cost.eu/participate/open_call