COST:PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURECOST:PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Francesco Fedi

President COST Committee “Senior Officials”

COSTCOST

COoperation in Science and Technology

It was the first and it is one of the widest intergovernmental European Network for coordination of nationally funded scientific and technical research

COSTCOST

WHY

does COST exist ?

Guglielmo Marconi

19001900

COSTCOST

- To connect Europe and Canada with e.m.waves

- The “ Academia” is against

- Nobody knows of the ionosphere

- Incredible difficulties

- The experiment is performed

- The letter “S” in the Morse alphabet is heard in Canada

COSTCOST

Guglielmo Marconi would have needed• support for a new brilliant idea with a foreseeable enormous

impact of results

Guglielmo Marconi would have needed• international cooperation

In other words

Guglielmo Marconi would have needed COST

i.e.

COSTCOST

- - a fast, efficient,effective, flexible frameworka fast, efficient,effective, flexible framework

- to get brilliant scientists together- to get brilliant scientists together

- under light strategic guidance- under light strategic guidance

- to let them work out their ideas- to let them work out their ideas

COSTCOST

1971

Conference of the Ministers of Research of 19 European countries convened in

Brussels in November

COSTCOST

opened the possibility of cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research for :

- the 6 countries of the European Community (Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg,(Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg,

the Netherlands)the Netherlands)

- 13 countries not belonging at that time to the European Community((Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Yugoslavia, Spain, Norway, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Yugoslavia, Spain, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom) Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom)

Conclusion of an intense preparatory work carriedout in the late 60’s European response to the international challengingsituation (Jean Jacques Servan Schreiber “Le defiAmericain”) Strategy adopted by the 6 countries :

to recuperate the delays of Europe in many areas of scientific and technical research

to open the COST cooperation to other 13 European countries

COSTCOST

COSTCOST

In 1971 COST research initiatives (Actions) are the only form of cooperation in Europe

In 1974 the European Science Foundation, in 1983 the First Framework Programme and in 1985 EUREKA

The existence of these initiatives notwithstanding, the interest of the European scientific community in COST constantly increased

COST TO DAYCOST TO DAY

From 7 Actions in 1971...

...to > 200 running Actions in2004

0

50

100

150

200

250

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

COST TO DAYCOST TO DAY

From 19 countries in1971…

…to 35 countries in 2004

35 COST COUNTRIES35 COST COUNTRIES

34 COST MEMBER STATES27 EU European countries

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,

Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

7 European countries

Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey,

1 COST COOPERATING STATE Israel

ISRAEL PARTICIPATIONISRAEL PARTICIPATION

80 COST ActionsBiomedicine and Molecular Bioscience (11)

Food and Agriculture (16)

Forests their Products and Services (4)

Materials, Physical and Nanosciences (9)

Chemistry and Molecular Sciences & Technologies(10)

Earth Systems Science & EnvironmentalManagement (9)

Information & Communication Technologies (11)

Transport & Urban Development (4)

Individuals, Society, Culture & Health (6)

ISRAEL PARTICIPATIONISRAEL PARTICIPATION

Ben Gurion University of the Negev University of Haifa Hadassah University Hospital The Weizmann Institute of Science Tel Aviv University Bar-Ilan University Israel Antiquities Authority Israel Nature and Parks Authority Regional R&D Center, The Galilee Society Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) Soreq Nuclear Research Center Technion - Israel Institute of Technology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

ISRAEL PARTICIPATIONISRAEL PARTICIPATION

ARO, The Volcani Center Agricultural Research Organization Beit-berl College Polymate LTD Ruppin Academic Center Department of Computer Science C.T.I Creative Technologies Israel Ltd. H.I.T Holon Institute of Technology The Academic College Tel-Aviv The Open University of Israel Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya Ergonomics & Safety, Ltd

COST CARACTERISTICSCOST CARACTERISTICS

Bottom- up approach. The initiative of launching a COST Action comes from the scientists and technical experts themselves.

“A la carte” participation. Only the countries interested in the Action sign the relevant “Memorandum of Understanding”. A minimum number of 5 signatures is needed.

Equality of access. Participation is open also to the scientific communities of countries not belonging to the European Union . COST has therefore the ability to anticipate the evolving European political situation: a “bridge” to the scientific communities of countries of the whole Europe.

COST CHARACTERISTICSCOST CHARACTERISTICS

Concerted ActionsConcerted Actions.Coordination of research funded .Coordination of research funded through national funds. Duplications and gaps are avoided. through national funds. Duplications and gaps are avoided. Consequent synergy and work sharing allows a more Consequent synergy and work sharing allows a more efficient use of national resources.efficient use of national resources.

Multiplier effectMultiplier effect.The funds provided by COST are less .The funds provided by COST are less than 1% of the total value of the Actions: in FP6 with only than 1% of the total value of the Actions: in FP6 with only about 20 million € per year, more than 30.000 European about 20 million € per year, more than 30.000 European scientists are involved in research whose total value scientists are involved in research whose total value exceeds 2 billion € per year.exceeds 2 billion € per year.

COST CHARACTERISTICSCOST CHARACTERISTICS

Flexibility. Easy implementation and agile management of research Actions through a simple structure.

The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) highest decision-making body made of representatives of all COST member countries.

The Domain Committees (DC) each responsible for a particular research domain formed by representatives of the COST countries.

The Management Committees (MC) (one for each Action) formed by national experts of the countries participating in the Action.

SECRETARIATSECRETARIAT

The Secretariat to CSO provided by the EU Council

The Secretariat to Technical Committees and to Actions provided by the European Science Foundation (ESF) through a COST Office located in Brussels.ESF acts as implementing Agent and receives from the European Commission the funds allocated to COST.

QUALITY CONTROLQUALITY CONTROL

By the COST DC’s assisted by the COST Office

Assessment of proposals for new Actions. Peer review by an Assessment Panel

Monitoring of the Actions in progress . Annual“ Progress Report” presented by the MC Chair in the yearly meeting with the relevant DC.

Evaluation of completed Actions. Peer review by an Evaluation Panel

RESULTSRESULTS

Scientific importance. Thousands of papers. Ph Doctors. Recognition of COST scientific Community outside Europe.

Contribution to European competitiveness. Contributions to normative and standardization bodies. SME’s originating from COST Actions. Transfer of results to European Industry.

Societal importance. Delicate issues arising from pressing societal needs.

Contribution to the ERA. COST precursor of research projects in the FP’s. Networks of Excellence from COST Actions in FP6.

The latest four years of COST history

and

The future of COST

COST

YEARS 2002-2003YEARS 2002-2003

DARK AGES DARK AGES

- EC declared its intention to cease to provide the scientific secretariat - EC declared its intention to cease to provide the scientific secretariat and the financial administrationand the financial administration

- Difficulty to ensure adequate funds from FP6- Difficulty to ensure adequate funds from FP6- Necessity to introduce reformsNecessity to introduce reforms

an “ honorable funeral” for COST?an “ honorable funeral” for COST?

COSTCOST

- Legal Personality- Legal Personality

- No-profit International Association ( consensus!)- No-profit International Association ( consensus!)

- MoU COST-ESF ( end 2002)- MoU COST-ESF ( end 2002)

- ESF implementing agent and scientific secretariat- ESF implementing agent and scientific secretariat

- EC-ESF contract ( end 2003)- EC-ESF contract ( end 2003)

COSTCOST

YEARS 2004-2007 YEARS 2004-2007

COST “REINASSANCE”COST “REINASSANCE”

COSTCOST

- COST Office established by ESF ( January 2004)- COST Office established by ESF ( January 2004)

- COST budget in FP6 : 50-80 M€ in 4 years- COST budget in FP6 : 50-80 M€ in 4 years

COSTCOST

COST REFORMSCOST REFORMS

COSTCOST

REFORMREFORM

ofof

COST GOVERNANCECOST GOVERNANCE

COSTCOST

COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS ( CSO )COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS ( CSO )

- Reinforcement of CSO strategic roleReinforcement of CSO strategic role- Reinforcement of COST governance Reinforcement of COST governance - Voting procedures Voting procedures (qualified majority ). Milestone in the history (qualified majority ). Milestone in the history

of COSTof COST

COSTCOST

EXECUTIVE GROUP ( JAF )EXECUTIVE GROUP ( JAF )

- Devolution of tasksDevolution of tasks- Recommendations of new ActionsRecommendations of new Actions- Generation, evaluation, revision of documents for Generation, evaluation, revision of documents for

the CSOthe CSO- Monitoring the budget management and the COST Monitoring the budget management and the COST

Office activitiesOffice activities

COSTCOST

ACTIONSACTIONS

Devolution to the Actions of the management of the Devolution to the Actions of the management of the Actions themselves ( annual grants)Actions themselves ( annual grants)

COSTCOST

REFORM OF COST SCIENTIFIC DOMAINSREFORM OF COST SCIENTIFIC DOMAINS

- - Milestone in COST historyMilestone in COST history

- Copernican revolution- Copernican revolution

- COST exploratorium of new ideas in the most - COST exploratorium of new ideas in the most promising fields of sciencepromising fields of science

SCIENTIFIC DOMAINSSCIENTIFIC DOMAINS

Biomedicine and Molecular Bioscience

Food and Agriculture

Forests their Products and Services

Materials, Physical and Nanosciences

Chemistry and Molecular Sciences & Technologies

Earth Systems Science & EnvironmentalManagement

Information & Communication Technologies

Transport & Urban Development

Individuals, Society, Culture & Health

COSTCOST

- Nominations of new members ( March 2006)- Nominations of new members ( March 2006)

- New Scientific Domains ( June 2006 )- New Scientific Domains ( June 2006 )

INTERDISCIPLINARITYINTERDISCIPLINARITY

STRATEGIC WORKSHOPS

COST & Cultural HeritageCOST & Cultural Heritage

EUROPEAN CULTURAL HERITAGE

Florence, 19-21 October 2005

Coordinating National IST Research in the ERA - IST 2002 Conference

European European COCOoperation in the field of operation in the field of SScientific and cientific and TTechnical researchechnical research

COST STRATEGIC WORKSHOPCOST STRATEGIC WORKSHOP“Food and Health: The Way Forward”“Food and Health: The Way Forward”

1-3 February 20061-3 February 2006

Théâtre du Résidence PalaceThéâtre du Résidence PalaceRue de la Loi 155Rue de la Loi 155B-1040 BruxellesB-1040 Bruxelles

BelgiumBelgium

European European COCOoperation in the field of operation in the field of SScientific and cientific and TTechnical researchechnical research

COSTCOST

REFORM OF THE ASSESSMENT AND SELECTION OF REFORM OF THE ASSESSMENT AND SELECTION OF PROPOSALS FOR NEW ACTIONSPROPOSALS FOR NEW ACTIONS

- Continuous Call for proposals- Continuous Call for proposals Bottom up, any time, any subjectBottom up, any time, any subject

- Two-stage process : Preliminary and Full Proposals- Two-stage process : Preliminary and Full Proposals No oversubscription, No disillutionNo oversubscription, No disillution

- External Peer-Reviewers for Full Proposals- External Peer-Reviewers for Full Proposals Excellence of proposalsExcellence of proposals

- - Rigorous selection procedureRigorous selection procedure Fair distribution among the DomainsFair distribution among the Domains

COSTCOST

OTHER REFORMSOTHER REFORMS

COSTCOST

COST STRATEGYCOST STRATEGY

- for Young Researchers

- for the European neighbouring countries

- for dissemination and monitoring the impact of COST results

- for strengthening the ties with : EC, EUREKA, ESF

COSTCOST

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

COSTCOST

HIGH LEVEL PANELHIGH LEVEL PANEL for the mid-term review of the EC-ESF contract for COSTfor the mid-term review of the EC-ESF contract for COST

recognizedrecognized the important role of COST for the Lisbon and the important role of COST for the Lisbon and

Barcelona objectivesBarcelona objectives

recommendedrecommended- - to give the entire sum of 80 M€ from FP6- to give the entire sum of 80 M€ from FP6- - to continue to support COST in the future- to continue to support COST in the future- - to increase the level of funding in FP7- to increase the level of funding in FP7

COSTCOST

European Scientific CommunityEuropean Scientific Community

Response to the Calls for proposals issued Response to the Calls for proposals issued in May 2006 (more than 800) in March 2007 in May 2006 (more than 800) in March 2007 (more than 400) in September 2007 (more (more than 400) in September 2007 (more than 500) in March 2008 (more than 400)than 500) in March 2008 (more than 400)

Preliminary proposals by country - first call 4/2006

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

DE IT UK ES FR NL AT BE CH BG FI GR IE RO SE P T DK P L NO IL SK CZ HU SI TR EE IS CS CY LT LU MK

Preliminary proposals by country - second call 3/2007

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

IT UK FR DE NL AT ES FI CH GR BE P L BG NO TR P T RO SE CZ HU IE RS DK CY LT SI SK EE IL MT

COSTCOST

“ “ If COST did not exist If COST did not exist

it would be necessary it would be necessary

to invent it “to invent it “

COSTCOST

Financial support to COST in FP7Financial support to COST in FP7

- - European Commission ( proposer )- European Commission ( proposer )- - Council of the European Union ( co-- Council of the European Union ( co-

decisor)decisor)- - European Parliament ( co-decisor)- European Parliament ( co-decisor)

Exhibition of COST in the EP Exhibition of COST in the EP (April 2006)(April 2006)

COSTCOST

UNIQUE EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT IN THE ERAUNIQUE EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT IN THE ERA

ExploratoriumExploratorium of new ideas in the most promising fields of science of new ideas in the most promising fields of science

High-level scientific networkHigh-level scientific network able to tackle problems of societal importance able to tackle problems of societal importance

FrameworkFramework able to ensure scientific excellence and networking among European researchers able to ensure scientific excellence and networking among European researchers

Effective toolEffective tool to coordinate nationally funded research activities to coordinate nationally funded research activities

Active partnerActive partner for the European Neighborhood policy towards the scientific communities of neighboring for the European Neighborhood policy towards the scientific communities of neighboring countriescountries

AssetAsset for the EU RTD policy with the rest of the world for the EU RTD policy with the rest of the world

COST - ESFCOST - ESF

In September 2006 COST and ESF decided to continue their cooperation and to strengthen the COST-ESF synergy while maintaining a clear distinction between their individual characteristics and their complementary roles

In October 2006 COST confirmed ESF as the legal entity to act as the implementing agent for COST and to continue to provide the secretariat to COST DCs and MCs during the next FP7

FINANCIAL SUPPORTFINANCIAL SUPPORT

EU Council Decision ( December 2006)

A SUCCESS FOR COST OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE: THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT

OBTAINED IN FP7

at least EUR 210 million and up to EUR 250 million subject to the mid-term evaluation

REWARD

The increase of between 50% and possibly more than 78% of the financial support to COST with respect to the Sixth Framework Programme is

- an acknowledgment of the excellence of COST and - a reward of paramount importance for the entire COST family

REWARD

For the members of the COST Committee of Senior Officials whose dedication and sense of ownership made it possibile to introduce a number of reforms which are real milestones in the history of COST

For the Chairs and members of the newly appointed scientific COST Domain Committees, nominated among the most outstanding European scientists

REWARD

For the participants in the COST Actions, the real “ raison d’etre” of COST and, in general, for the entire European scientific community which with their overwhelming response to the COST Calls for the selection of new Actions confirmed all the

vitality of the COST framework.

REWARD

For the COST Secretariat provided, since the very beginning of COST, by the General Secretariat of the EU Council

For the COST Office established by the European Science Foundation in Brussels acting as COST

implementing agent

COSTCOST

“COST contributes to avoid fragmentation of national research efforts in the ERA”

COSTCOST

The mission of COST is to be a flexible, fast, effective and efficient tool to network and coordinate nationally funded research activities at project level (Actions), bringing good scientists together under light strategic guidance and letting them work out their ideas

COSTCOST

" COST contributes to increase the cooperation on a world basis”

COSTCOST

One of the key features of COST is its openness towards the rest of the world on the basis of mutual benefit. International participants from non-COST countries can join an Action on a case by case basis once the mutual benefit has been ascertained, without the need for any formal arrangements at government or agency level

COST Actions: global participationCOST Actions: global participation

130 Institutions of non-COST countries in some 100 COST Actions

Australia 8

Argentina 2

China 10

Japan 9

Canada 25

New-Zealand 2

South Africa 3

Albania 1

Bosnia & Herzegovina 2 Armenia 1

Ethiopia 1

Eritrea 1

Ukraina 18 Russia 38

USA 21Rep of Korea 1China (Taiwan) 1

China (Macao) 1

Brazil 2

Algeria 1

India 1

COSTCOST

With such easy accessibility and light and fast procedures, COST has been a “bridge” for the scientific communities:

- both of the European neighbouring countries

- and on a world basis

COSTCOST

In general researchers from Institutions from non-In general researchers from Institutions from non-COST countries do not receive economic support from COST countries do not receive economic support from COSTCOST

There is however some notable exceptions sinceThere is however some notable exceptions since for non - European participants in COST Actions,

specific incentives are a prerequisite as they, normally, lack the necessary travel budget.

COSTCOST

For the near-neighbouring countriesFor the near-neighbouring countries Balkan and Eastern countries Balkan and Eastern countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Azerbaijan,

Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine)

Mediterranean north-African countries Mediterranean north-African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority)

Up to two researchers from each country may be Up to two researchers from each country may be reimbursed for attendance at the meetings of COST reimbursed for attendance at the meetings of COST Actions. Actions.

Moreover, researchers from these countries are Moreover, researchers from these countries are eligible to participate in other activities decided at eligible to participate in other activities decided at the level of individual Actions (such as meetings, the level of individual Actions (such as meetings, short-term scientific missions, training schools and short-term scientific missions, training schools and conferences).conferences).

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

It has to be hoped thatIt has to be hoped that

the expected brilliant future of the expected brilliant future of COSTCOST

will continue to be an important opportunitywill continue to be an important opportunity

for the COST scientific communityfor the COST scientific community

and for opening the ERA to the worldand for opening the ERA to the world