COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and beyond and enable researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in any science and technology field by sharing them with their peers. COST Actions are bottom-up networks with a duration of four years that boost research, innovation and careers. The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST Association) is running an EU-funded programme which enables researchers and innovators to set-up their own research networks in a wide range of scientific topics, called COST Actions. While COST does not fund research activities as such, it provides funding for scientific collaboration in the form of conferences, meetings, training schools and scientific exchanges. To date, COST has 41 Full Members, 1 Cooperating Member and 1 Partner Member. Prof. Salvatore Grimaldi has been appointed as President of the COST Association in July 2023 and will serve as President until 21 June 2025. In the 1960s, European countries felt the need to begin framing science policies in order to bridge the gap in science and technology between Europe and the USA. As a result, COST was founded in 1971 to connect the research systems of individual European countries. The Ministerial Conference of 22 and 23 November 1971 is generally presented as the official entry into force of COST and at which the first intergovernmental agreements were signed. The COST governing board, the Committee of Senior Officials, approved the mission that will drive COST throughout the end of Horizon Europe: “COST provides networking opportunities for researchers and innovators in order to strengthen Europe’s capacity to address scientific, technological and societal challenges. ...view more