Network: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is a funding organisation for the creation of research networks, called COST Actions. These networks offer an open space for collaboration among scientists across Europe (and beyond) and thereby give impetus to research advancements and innovation. COST is bottom up, this means that researchers can create a network – based on their own research interests and ideas – by submitting a proposal to the COST Open Call. The proposal can be in any science field. COST Actions are highly interdisciplinary and open. It is possible to join ongoing Actions, which therefore keep expanding over the funding period of four years. They are multi-stakeholder, often involving the private sector, policymakers as well as civil society. Since 1971, COST receives EU funding under the various research and innovation framework programmes, such as Horizon 2020.

An interesting aspect in terms of science diplomacy is, that participation in COST can require the scientists to represent their country as members of the Actions’ Management Committees and thus makes them science ambassadors for their countries.

COST also allows for international participation and global networking and provides financial support (to its Near Neighbour Countries) and offering Partner Member status (to International Partner Countries), see https://www.cost.eu/who-we-are/cost-strategy/international-cooperation. The participation of these countries is also negotiated, where COST plays a role to put science and cooperation with Europe on the political radar.

Visit site: https://www.cost.eu/

In particular here are a few statements available, how COST puts science diplomacy in practice.

Keywords: Network, Funding, Capacity Building, Publications