OPEN CALL

European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)

2012/C 177/08

COST brings together researchers and experts in different countries working on specific topics. COST does NOT fund research itself, but supports networking activities such as meetings, conferences, short-term scientific exchanges and outreach activities. Currently around 250 scientific networks (Actions) are supported.

COST invites proposals for Actions contributing to the scientific, technological, economic, cultural or societal development of Europe. Proposals playing a precursor role for other European programmes and/or initiated by early-stage researchers are especially welcome.

Developing stronger links amongst European researchers is crucial to building the European Research Area (ERA). COST stimulates new, innovative, interdisciplinary and broad research networks in Europe. COST activities are carried out by research teams to strengthen the foundations for building scientific excellence in Europe.

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, Societies, Cultures and Health; Information and Communication Technologies; Materials, Physics and Nanosciences; Transport and Urban Development). The intended coverage of each domain is explained at http://www.cost.eu

Applicants 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.

Proposals should include researchers from a minimum of five COST countries. Financial support for an Action of 19 participating countries is in the range of EUR 130 000 p.a. for normally four years, subject to available budget.

Proposals will be assessed in two stages. Preliminary proposals (maximum 1 500 words/3 pages), submitted using the on-line template at http://www.cost.eu/opencall should provide a brief overview of the proposal and its intended impact. Proposals not conforming to the eligibility criteria of COST (e.g. requesting research funding) will be excluded. Eligible proposals will be assessed by the relevant Domain Committees in accordance with the published criteria at http://www.cost.eu. Applicants of selected preliminary proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals will be peer reviewed according to the assessment criteria at http://www.cost.eu/opencall. The decision will normally be taken within six months of the collection date and the Actions should expect to start within three months thereafter.

The collection date for preliminary proposals is 28 September 2012, 17:00 Brussels time. Around 20 % will be invited to submit a full proposal for final selection of approximately 40 new Actions, subject to available budget. Full proposals will be invited by 23 November 2012 for submission by 25 January 2013, with decisions expected in May 2013. The next collection date is envisaged for 29 March 2013, including a specific collection of Trans-domain proposals (TDP) according to a specific pilot procedure (detailed information on the procedure can be found at http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/TDP as from September 2012).

Applicants may wish to contact their national COST Coordinator (CNC) for information and guidance — see http://www.cost.eu/cnc

Proposals must be submitted on-line to the COST Office website.

COST receives financial support for its coordinating activities from the EU RTD framework programme. The COST Office, set up by the European Science Foundation (ESF), acting as the implementing agent for COST, provides and manages the administrative, scientific and technical secretariat for COST, its Domain Committees and its Actions.