About Cost association - european cooperation in science and technology
Cost Association - European Cooperation in Science and Technology: Connecting Research Initiatives Across Europe and Beyond
COST, or the European Cooperation in Science and Technology, is a funding organization that supports research networks across Europe and beyond. With a mission to connect research initiatives, COST has been instrumental in advancing scientific knowledge and innovation for over 50 years.
As a pan-European intergovernmental framework for cooperation in science and technology, COST provides funding for researchers to collaborate on projects that address societal challenges. The organization's Actions are designed to promote interdisciplinary research across borders, bringing together experts from different fields to work towards common goals.
COST's network of researchers spans over 40 countries, including EU Member States as well as non-EU countries such as Israel, Turkey, Ukraine, and Serbia. By fostering collaboration between these diverse communities of scientists, COST aims to create new knowledge that can benefit society as a whole.
One of the key strengths of COST is its ability to support bottom-up initiatives driven by researchers themselves. This means that scientists can propose their own ideas for research projects within the framework of COST's thematic areas. These themes cover a wide range of topics such as health and wellbeing; food security; climate action; materials science; digital technologies; cultural heritage; inclusiveness policies; fundamental rights; urban development; transport systems; energy systems integration.
Once an Action is approved by COST's governing bodies (the Committee of Senior Officials), it receives funding for up to four years. During this time period, researchers involved in the Action meet regularly at workshops or conferences organized by the network itself. They also have access to training opportunities provided by COST on topics such as project management or communication skills.
The benefits of participating in a COST Action are manifold: not only do researchers gain access to funding opportunities but they also get exposure to new ideas from other disciplines or regions. This can lead to unexpected collaborations or breakthroughs that would not have been possible otherwise. Moreover, COST Actions often result in publications, patents, or spin-off companies that contribute to the knowledge-based economy.
COST's impact on European science and technology is significant. Since its creation in 1971, it has supported over 50,000 researchers from academia and industry. Its Actions have resulted in thousands of scientific publications and patents as well as numerous policy recommendations at national and EU level.
In addition to funding research networks, COST also plays a role in shaping science policy at the European level. It provides advice to the European Commission on research priorities and contributes to the development of Horizon Europe (the EU's framework program for research and innovation).
COST is committed to promoting open science principles such as open access to publications or data sharing. It also encourages gender balance and diversity among its participants by providing specific measures such as travel grants for early-career researchers or mentoring programs for women scientists.
In conclusion, COST is a unique organization that supports collaborative research across borders within Europe and beyond. Its bottom-up approach allows researchers to propose their own ideas for projects while benefiting from funding opportunities, training activities, and networking events. By connecting experts from different fields around common challenges facing society today, COST contributes significantly to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation while promoting open science principles and diversity among its participants.