A two stage process will be followed to assess proposals. Preliminary Proposals should provide a brief overview of the proposal and its impact. A pre-selection will rank the remaining Preliminary Proposals of which some 75 per collection date will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.

COST’s main objective is to stimulate new, innovative and interdisciplinary scientific networks in Europe. COST activities (Actions) are carried out by research teams to strengthen the foundations for building scientific excellence in Europe. This continuous call is thematically open.

Since 1971, COST brings together research teams in different countries working on specific topics. It finances networking of nationally funded activities in supporting meetings, conferences, short term scientific exchanges and outreach activities. COST supports the networking of specific research themes (COST does NOT fund research projects themselves). Currently more than 200 Actions are supported. Every year approximately 50 new Actions will be approved. On average financial support of some € 100.000 p.a. as grant for normally 4 years can be expected.

Proposals playing a precursor role for other European programmes and/or initiated by early-stage researchers are especially welcome.

COST is organised in nine broad 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, society, culture and health
•   information and communication technologies
•   materials, physical and nanosciences
•   transport and urban development

Proposers are invited to locate their topic within one domain. However, inter-disciplinary proposals not fitting readily into a single domain are particularly welcome and will be assessed separately.

COST does not itself fund research, but supports networking activities such as meetings, conferences, short-term scientific exchanges and outreach activities. It receives financial support for its coordinating activities under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).


Source: http://www.cost.esf.org/opencall