Growing ideasthrough networks

About us

COST is an intergovernmental organisation supporting the collaboration of nationally funded science and technology research through the creation of networks.

Also known as “COST Actions”, these networks allow scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers and thereby give impetus to their research, career and innovation.

What are

COST Actions?

• Pan-European networks of researchers and scientists

• Science and technology driven: scientists define the content of their Action (bottom-up)

• Open to all fields of science and technology, focusing on excellence

• Academia, industry, public and private sector laboratories in one team

• Inclusive, inviting researchers from all COST countries to contribute with their knowledge and experience

• Expanding nature, with members from at least five COST countries at the start, open to new members during the four year duration

European Cooperation in Science

and Technology (COST)

COST in numbers

2014

5Minimum number of COST countries to start a COST Action

340Running COST Actions

367Training Schools within COST Actions

2.524 Short-term scientific missions (STSM) within COST Actions

45.000European researchers involved in running COST Actions

€130.000Average annual budget of a COST Action

€300mCOST budget (from Horizon 2020 for a 7-year period)

2014 at a glance

The European Research Area (ERA)

The European Research Area (ERA) is a political concept that sets out the idea of an open space where European researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely and dynamically.

Through the realisation of this idea, the European Union and its Member States will increase their footprint in science and technology worldwide and therefore strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and innovation capacity.

To achieve this ambitious idea, Europe must increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the public research funding. This requires more coordination and cooperation, so that the brightest minds from all locations work together to advance knowledge and to create impact on our biggest societal challenges, such as demographic-ageing, energy security, mobility, environmental degradation, and to avoid work in parallel.

An open space for knowledge and growth• It puts scientists in the driving seat when

addressing societal challenges • It offers a platform for dialogue and knowledge

exchange among researchers from different horizons and other stakeholders such as industry and their research labs

• It encourages transdisciplinary approaches integrating researchers from different fields

• It involves and offers opportunities for excellent researchers arriving from less connected knowledge centres

• It thereby contributes to European competitiveness and socio-economic development

COST contributes greatly to theEuropean Research Area (ERA)

COST allows European researchers to

develop their own ideas

• It builds trust among people and countries • It creates more integration between European

countries and their diversities• It helps researchers develop a common language• It optimises national investment in research and

technology

Efficient integration of Excellence and Inclusiveness

36COST MemberCountries

20COST CooperatingState

COST Inclusiveness Target Countries

Openness stands for the opportunity to joinongoing COST Actions, while Inclusivenessreflects the will to actively engage scientistsfrom less connected research communities, young investigators and women in science with their peers.

Both lead to dynamic and productive networks of researchers, engineers and scholars acrosscountries, generations and gender.

COST Actions feature two main

characteristics: Openness and Inclusiveness

OUT OF 36 1

COST currently has 36 Member Countries and one Cooperating State, Israel. Near Neighbour Countries and International Partner Countries are welcome to participate.

“The first step for future joint European initiatives”

“COST is very often the only instrument that really helps network with colleagues in Europe”

”Gives international visibility to researchers chairing Actions”

“It’s all about the networking”

”I see COST as a research incubator”

“A team of scientists is more than just the sum of its parts”

”The biggest advantage of COST is diversity”

“A chance for smaller players and teams to engage with the stronger ones”

“A springboard for future projects in Horizon 2020”

Iceland

Ireland

United Kingdom

Norway

SwedenFinland

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Poland Germany

Czech Republic

Belgium

Netherlands

Luxembourg

Switzerland

Portugal

Spain

France

Malta

Austria

Romania Slovakia

Slovenia

Italy

Greece

Turkey

Israel

Cyprus

Croatia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

fYR Macedonia

Bulgaria

Serbia

Hungary

Denmark

Geographical coverage

Montenegro

COST AssociationAvenue Louise 1491050 Brussels, BelgiumTel. +32 2 533 38 00 Fax. +32 2 533 38 90

COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020

communications@cost.euwww.cost.eu