International Cooperation

COST European Cooperation in Science and Technology

Since 1971 COST supports collaborative transnational activities under a system of networks of investigators based on open access and bottom-up principles, covering all scientific and technological domains. These networks, designated COST Actions, enable breakthrough scientific developments contributing to the Europe's leadership in RDI. Via its inclusiveness policy, and through the special emphasis given to young investigators, COST is a unique means to European investigators to foster their ideas and initiatives openly, freely, and through collaborative efforts. COST promotes the integration and development of a myriad of scientific communities, maximising the national investment in RDI, and contributing decisively to the defragmentation of knowledge in Europe.

Highlights

New COST Actions approved. Dates of the kick off Meetings of the new COST Actions are released in due time, and they will be made available in the "Recently Approved Actions" document.
Submit your expression of interest to be part of the Management Committee of ongoing COST Actions (or recently approved COST Actions) : consult the side bar to download all the supporting info and submit all the necessary documentation until 07.07.2022. Important to understand that the ones who were part of the group of proposers will be nominated first.
Open Call deadline to submit a proposal to fund New COST Actions (COST Open Call).

Supporting Documents for All Applicants:

Important Links:

Relevant Information

General Description

COST Actions are based on an intergovernmental framework of cooperation that is presently comprised by 38 member countries and 1 cooperating state). Institutions from non-member states are also eligible to participate in COST Actions. The financial support provided by COST covers the cost of the coordination of these networks of investigators. Currently, more than 250 COST Actions are open, involving circa 50.000 investigators.

How to Apply and How to Participate

Please consult the documents in the sidebar. Very Important: all documentation and communications should be sent to cost@fct.pt. It is not necessary FCT approval to be part of the Working Groups of COST Actions.

COST Actions Funding Principles

The support given covers: meetings (travelling, daily allowances, local organisation support, for example), conferences, workshops, short term scientific meetings, advanced training activities, publications, and dissemination activities. COST does not fund research itself (equipment, human resources, consumables), as research is funded through other mechanisms. The financial administration of the COST Action is assured by the Grant Holder Institution (decided during the kick-off Management Committee meeting), based on a reimbursement system. As reference, a COST Action involving 20 countries will have an approximate annual budget of 130.000 euros for developing and implementing its activities.