Introduction

COST (CO-operation in Science and Technology) is a pan-European intergovernmental framework dedicated to networking activities for European researchers to jointly develop their own ideas and new initiatives across all scientific disciplines through trans-European coordination of nationally funded research activities.

COST's mission is to strengthen Europe's scientific and technical research capacity by supporting cooperation and interaction between European researchers, covering from basic to applied or technological research and including research addressing issues of pre-normative nature or of particular societal importance.

COST key features are:

• Building capacity by connecting high-quality scientific communities throughout Europe and worldwide;

• Providing networking opportunities for early career investigators;

• Increasing the impact of research on policy makers, regulatory bodies and national decision makers as well as the private sector.

COST also increases the mobility of researchers across Europe and fosters the establishment of scientific excellence.

Objectives 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, including health, and wishes to 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:

- Workshops and conferences;

- Training schools;

- Short-term scientific missions;

- Publications;

- Dissemination activities.

Eligible applicants

The call is open to the participation of researchers belonging to the following organisations based in one of the 35 COST countries or in the Cooperating State (Israel):

- Government organisations, except intergovernmental organisations;

- Universities and associated organisations;

- Business enterprises (ranging from SMEs to multinationals);

- Private non-profit organisations/NGOs (even if international);

- Standards organisations (even if international);

- International organisations.

Partnership criteria

The network of proposers must be composed by researchers, engineers and scholars affiliated to legal entities from at least five different COST Member Countries and/or Cooperating State.

Projects have an average participation of 22 COST countries.

Funding

The support covers the costs of networking activities such as meetings (e.g. travel, subsistence, local organiser support), conferences, workshops, short-term scientific exchanges, training schools, publications and dissemination activities. COST does not fund the research itself. The financial support averages EUR 130 000 per year for a four-year period.

Project duration

Four years

Deadline

9 February 2016

More information at www.cost.eu

In case of interest, please contact the Research Support Office  (Leonor Norton: lnorton@fsjd.org).