PROGRAMME SUMMARY
COST is a European cooperation measure in the field of scientific and technical research. It does not fund research itself but provides a platform for European scientists to cooperate on a particular project and exchange expertise. These projects are called “Actions”.
COST Actions are:
- Pan-European: Spanning 36 Member States
- Researcher-driven: In terms of proposed topics, objectives and work organisation; researchers choose their own topics; all decision are entrusted to the Action’s Management Committees
- Open and inclusive: Open to all researchers, engineers and scholars, irrespective of gender, field or career stage. Actions can expand, as researchers from new countries can join in during the first three years
- Multi- and interdisciplinary: Building, bridging and expanding multi- and interdisciplinary science and technology research communities
- Future-oriented: Engaging the next generation of young researchers
- Lightweight: They are a light platform to coordinate national research funding through easy networking tools and simple rules.
- On the basis of mutual benefit, researchers, engineers and scholars from Near Neighbour Countries and International Partners Countries may join.
Each COST Action is a Network centred around nationally-funded research projects in fields that are of interest to at least five COST countries. COST provides the COST Actions with financial support for joint activities, such as conferences, short-term scientific exchanges and publications. Each COST Actions has an objective, defined goals and clear deliverables.
COST Actions have located their topic into one of COST’s scientific Domains.
70 new COST Actions approved June 2022
Click here to download a list of the newly approved Actions.
FUNDING SPECIFICS
COST financing is restricted to coordination expenses (meetings between teams, publication expenses, short travel assignments of young researchers, etc.); the cost of the research itself is borne by each country under national programmes.
PARTICIPATION INFORMATION
The initiative of launching a COST Action comes from the European researchers themselves. Researchers who wish to launch a new Action submit a proposal to the continuous COST Open Call for Proposals. Projects presented at the initiative of researchers involve between five and 25 countries (15 on average).
If you wish to participate in a COST Action please complete the COST Action form and send it to Dr Helena Burg (FNR) with your CV. You will then be nominated to Management Committees (MC) of the COST Action. Once you are accepted by the action, you will have the full rights to participate in the Action meetings.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Luxembourg-based researchers from the public and private sector are invited to participate in these Actions. Participating in a COST Action is a particularly effective way for building up an international network.
More general information on COST and its ongoing Actions (external link)
NEXT COLLECTION DATES FOR PROPOSED NEW COST ACTIONS
The COST Open Call 2022 remains open until 20 October 2022 at 12:00 noon (CET). Discover more about the simple one-step application process to submit a new COST Action.
40 NEW COST ACTIONS LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2019
On 4 June 2019, COST’s governing board, the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO), have confirmed the funding of 40 new COST Actions, starting in late Summer/Autumn 2019. 10 of the 40 Actions involve Luxembourg co-proposers.
More than half of the 40 network proposals cover at least two OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) fields of science and technology, while 5% cover at least three fields.
Natural sciences lead the way as the most represented field of science (53% of the Actions), followed by engineering and technology (30%), social sciences (28%), agricultural sciences (20%), medical and health sciences (18%) and humanities (10%).
Download list of new COST Actions or visit COST website for information about upcoming COST meetings.
40 NEW COST ACTIONS LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER 2018
On 13 November 2018, COST’s governing board, the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO), have confirmed the funding of 40 new COST Actions, starting in Spring 2019. Two actions involved Luxembourg researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) and University of Luxembourg respectively.
35% of the 40 network proposals cover at least two OECD fields of science and technology, while 7% cover at least three fields.
Natural sciences lead the way as the most represented field of science (40% of the Actions), followed by medical and health sciences (28%), engineering and technology (28%), social sciences (23%), humanities (20%) and agricultural sciences (5%).
Download list of new COST Actions or visit COST website
39 NEW COST ACTIONS LAUNCHED IN APRIL 2018
In April 2108, COST announced the launch of 39 new COST Actions, with one further Action pending. A detailed list of the new Actions is available from early May 2018 on a dedicated page on the COST website showing all current COST Actions.
