COST Framework Katalin Alfoldi COST Association eseia, EU brokerage event, Brussels, 2 Decembre 2014 COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through a European Commission contract
OUTLINE What is COST? How does COST work? COST ACTIONS HOW TO PARTICIPATE? COST OPEN CALL BECOME A COST EXPERT 2
What is COST? COST is the oldest and widest European intergovernmental framework for Cooperation in Science and Technology (1971) COST has been supporting the networking of research activities across all 35 Member Countries and beyond for over 40 years COST is based on networks called COST Actions. Currently there are 328 running Actions networking around 30 000 researchers per year, worldwide. 3
COST Mission Statement COST enables breakthrough scientific and technological developments leading to new concepts and products. It thereby contributes to strengthening Europe s research and innovation capacities. 4
COST objectives under H2020 Enabling breakthrough scientific developments leading to new concepts and products. Jointly contributing to strengthening Europe s research and innovation capacities. Joining research efforts and developing common S&T programmes Capacity building Addressing societal questions Strengthening COST s Inclusiveness Policy 5
COST Key Features for H2020 COST Key Principles Supporting excellence Being open Being inclusive COST Driving Forces Fostering new ideas Sharing knowledge Output orientation 6
COST Countries 7
COST Budget from H2020 EUR 300 million for 7 years coming from two H2020 work programmes: Challenge 6 Europe in a changing world inclusive, innovative and reflective Societies Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation For trans-european networking of nationally funded research activities in the form of a seven year Framework Partnership Agreement between the European Commission and the COST Member Countries as represented by the COST Association 8
How does COST work? 9
COST Actions COST supports the networking of researchers through science and technology networks, which are open to: All fields of S&T (including interdisciplinary, new and emergent fields) Any novel and original idea (innovative) All partners (public and private, big and small) All career stages (young and senior investigators) All countries, including COST Near Neighbour Countries (NNC) and International Partner Countries (IPC) fostering international cooperation 10
What is a COST Action? pan-european, bottom-up science and technology networks open to researchers, industry and policy stakeholders Duration 4 years. Minimum 5 COST Member Countries 19 COST COUNTRIES - Annual Budget in FP7 of 129,000 euros COST supports the following networking activities: Meetings, Conferences, Workshops, Short-term scientific exchanges, Training schools, Publications & dissemination activities 11
COST Actions 2014 12
How an Action is established (0) John SME Clémentine Senior Researcher Thorir Assistant Professor Ülle Full Professor Lech Post-doc Maria phd Zeynep Industry representative
How an Action is established (I) Nationally/institutionally funded activities Thorir (Assistant Professor) 1 project Hanna (Full Professor) 2 projects John (SME) 1 Project Lech (Post-doc) 1 draft project Clémentine (Senior Researcher) 3 projects Researchers in COST-Countries... Maria (phd) 1 phd thesis Zeynep (Industry representative) Several on-going projects
How an Action is established (II) Nationally/institutionally funded activities Thorir (Assistant Professor) 1 project Hanna (Full Professor) 2 projects John (SME) 1 Projects Clémentine (Senior Researcher) 3 projects... team up and submit a proposal. COST Action Proposal Maria (phd) 1 phd thesis Lech (Post-doc) 1 draft project Zeynep (Industry representative) Several on-going projects
How an Action is established (III) Nationally/institutionally funded activities COST Action When successful and approved...
How an Action is established (IV) Nationally/institutionally funded activities Thorir (Assistant Professor) 1 project Hanna (Full Professor) 2 projects John (SME) 1 Projects COST Action Lech (Post-doc) 1 draft project Clémentine (Senior Researcher) 3 projects Maria (phd) 1 phd thesis...countries nominate the proposers to the Action Zeynep (Industry representative) Several on-going projects
How an Action is established (V) Nationally/institutionally funded activities Thorir (Assistant Professor) 1 project Hanna (Full Professor) 2 projects John (SME) 1 Projects COST Action Lech (Post-doc) 1 draft project Clémentine (Senior Researcher) 3 projects Maria (phd)... and 1 phd thesis other countries nominate their researchers too... Zeynep (Industry representative) Several on-going projects
COST Networking Tools Science management meetings (MC + WG) Scientific workshops & seminars Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) Training Schools Dissemination + publications 19
Who can participate? Researchers affiliated to the following INSTITUTIONS: Institutions from COST Member Countries, Near Neighbour Countries (NNC) and International Partner Countries European Commission and EU Agencies European RTD Organisations limited to: CERN, EMBL, ESA, ESO, ESRF, European XFEL, ILL, EFDA JET International Organisations (examples: UNESCO, FAO, WHO, EFI, CABI, MARIE CURIE FELLOWS ASSOCIATION, EUROPEAN CENTER FOR WOMEN AND TECHNOLOGY) http://www.cost.eu/participate 20
HOW TO PARTICIPATE? http://www.cost.eu/participate 21
Near Neighbour Countries Near Neighbour Countries (NNC): countries approved by the COST Committee of Senior Officials to benefit from dedicated support (being eligible for reimbursement on their participation) for the integration of their scientists in COST activities These countries are: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Russia, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine 22
Near Neighbour countries participation 165 Participations in running COST Actions (16 countries) May 2013 Belarus (5) Russia (47) Moldova (2) Montenegro (7) Ukraine (31) Georgia (6) Albania (13) Azerbaijan (4) COST Countries NN countries Morocco (12) Tunisia (10) Armenia (4) Syria (1) Lebanon (7) Algeria (7) Jordan (1) Egypt (8) 12
Participation in running Actions, during year 2014 Number of Actions Actions code Armenia 11 ES1104, FA1003, FA1203, FP1204, IC1305, MP0901, MP1209, MP1302, MP1304, TD1205, TU1208 Belarus 10 BM1304, ES0907, FA1104, FP1102, IC0906, IS0902, MP0903, MP1106, MP1206, TD1208 Georgia 5 FA1003, FA1203, FP1203, IS1103, MP0905 Moldova 7 BM0905, CM1202, CM1203, FA1003, IC1305, MP0904, TD1303
COST Near Neighbor Countries participation in COST Actions Researchers from NNC can become partner in a COST Action on the base of proven mutual benefit a) initial partner of a COST Action proposal b) join a running COST Action The approval process of NNC participation happens correspondingly: a) when the original proposal is approved b) when their accession to the proposal/ Action is approved by the Management Committee Science Operations Executive Board of CSO c) This approval process is short thanks to the introduction of a fast-track written procedure for NNC 25
COST Near Neighbor Countries participation in COST Actions In case NNC participation is approved, on the basis of mutual benefit, researchers from NNC countries are eligible for reimbursement of their travel and subsistence costs following the rules: up to two researchers / NNC (one / institution) can participate at MC meetings NNC researchers have an MC Observers status In the final year of the Action, no more requests is possible Training Schools may be allowed in NNC on a case by case basis and subject to proven added value to the Action Trainers from NNC are eligible for reimbursement 26
How to Find a running Action? http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/all_actions 27
How to Find a running Action? Description of the Action Objectives, Working Groups, etc 28
COST Open Call The new Open Call will be published on the COST website at end of 2014 Proposals can be submitted as of January 2015 Collection Date March 2015 Stay tuned for COST updates: www.cost.eu/opencall
OPTION 3 Become a COST EXPERT 30
Become a COST Expert! As a COST Expert, you will have the opportunity to: Contribute to the evaluation of COST Open Call proposals; Participate in the assessment of Action results and outcomes; Be invited to take part in the assessment of COST strategic activities.. New experts can express their interest via the COST Expert online registration form (www.cost.eu/experts) An updated Curriculum Vitae with a list of publications is required to demonstrate competence in specific areas of expertise. More on COST Experts: www.cost.eu/participate/experts. 31
Thank you for your attention! Katalin.Alfoldi@cost.eu COST European Cooperation in Science and Technology Avenue Louise 149 1050 Brussels, Belgium T: +32 (0)2 533 3800 F: +32 (0)2 533 3890 office@cost.eu www.cost.eu Get COST News by e-mail by signing up at www.cost.eu/notification www.facebook.com/cost.programme twitter.com/costoffice www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1699127