European Cooperation in Science and Technology
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European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is Europe's longest-running intergovernmental framework for cooperation in science and technology.[1] Founded in 1971, COST holds a successful history of implementing science and technology networks for over 40 years, offering scientists the opportunity to embark upon bottom-up, multidisciplinary cooperation across all science and technology domains.
Contents
Objectives
COST is one of the European financial instruments contributing to the build-up of the European Research Area (ERA). Beyond its 28 member states, COST countries include Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey. Israel is a cooperating state. In its efforts to open the European Research Area to international cooperation, COST also welcomes and supports the active involvement in COST Actions of researchers from COST Near Neighbour Countries and International Partner Countries, on the basis of ascertained mutual benefit. COST funds cooperative networks called "COST Actions", fostering researchers' mobility and cooperation among nationally-funded research projects. The funding covers 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 research itself.
Finance
The Seventh Framework Programme funded and funds COST during the years 2007-2013 by 250 million euro.
Scientific domains and projects
COST has around 200 running "COST Actions" in nine scientific domains:
- Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences
- Chemistry and Molecular Sciences and Technologies
- Earth System Science and Environmental Management
- Food and Agriculture
- Forests, their Products and Services
- Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Materials, Physics and Nanosciences
- Transport and Urban Development
Trans-Domain (TD) COST Actions offer researchers fertile ground for future networks across many science and technology disciplines, by allowing unusually broad, interdisciplinary proposals to cover several scientific Domains.
Management
COST is governed by the COST Member States.
Its highest decision-making body is the "Committee of Senior Officials" (CSO), consisting of two representatives per country, one of them being the COST National Coordinator (CNC). The CSO is responsible for COST's strategic development and decides, amongst other things, on the proposed new Actions following the Open Call.
COST Domain Committees are composed of scientists across the European scientific community.
The European Science Foundation implements the COST Office through a contract with the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. The COST Office is based in Brussels, Belgium. It supports the scientific activities and implements CSO decisions.
See also
- COST Action 231 - Radio Propagation models such as Hata Model
- COST Action MP0902 - Composites of Inorganic nanotubes and Polymers
- COST Action FP1105 - Understanding wood cell wall structure, biopolymer interaction and composition: implications for current products and new materials.
- COST Action FA0804- Molecular Farming: Using Plants to manufacture High Value Products
- HLA-NET — COST Action BM0803 — A European network of the HLA diversity for histocompatibility, clinical transplantation, epidemiology and population genetics
- COST Action TU1002 - Accessibility Instruments for Planning Practice in Europe
- COST Action BM1105 - GnRH deficiency: Elucidation of the neuroendocrine control of human reproduction
- COST Action TU1206 - SUB-URBAN - A European network to improve understanding and use of the ground beneath our cities.
- COST Action CM 1302 - Smart Inorganic Polymers
- COST Action IS1103 Adapting European health systems to diversity (ADAPT)
