European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research A New Era has begun for COST Dr.-Ing. Martin Grabert Director COST Office, Brussels

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 2 January 2006 COST mission Strengthen Europe in scientific and technical research for peaceful purposes through the support of cooperation and interaction between European researchers

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 3 January 2006 COST helps pooling resources Source: Research Europe

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 4 January 2006 COST characteristics Co-ordination through networkingCo-ordination through networking Pan-EuropeanPan-European “Non-competitive” (pre-normative; public utility)“Non-competitive” (pre-normative; public utility) National financing of researchers and projects – national responsibilityNational financing of researchers and projects – national responsibility Bottom-up and flexible “a la carte” participationBottom-up and flexible “a la carte” participation Multi-disciplinary: wide range of disciplinesMulti-disciplinary: wide range of disciplines “Interdisciplinary Exploratoria”“Interdisciplinary Exploratoria” Enabling agent: focus on younger researchersEnabling agent: focus on younger researchers Open to wider cooperationOpen to wider cooperation

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 5 January 2006 COST Member States  The 25 EU Member States  EFTA Member States  Iceland  Norway  Switzerland  Candidate Countries  Bulgaria  Romania  Turkey  Other Countries  Serbia and Montenegro *  Croatia *  FYR of Macedonia (FYROM) *  COST Co-operating States  Israel * not associated to FP COST Countries

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 6 January 2006 COST Actions: global participation Total number of participations in running Actions: 120 (incl. 5 NGO) Australia - 7 Argentina - 2 China - 10 Japan - 6 Canada - 22 New-Zealand - 1 South Africa - 1 Albania - 1 Bosnia & Herzegovina - 1 Armenia - 1 Ethiopia - 1 Eritrea - 1 Ukraina - 15 Russia - 27 USA - 14 Rep of Korea - 1 China (Taiwan) - 1 China (Macao) - 1 Brazil - 1 Algeria - 1 India - 1

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 7 January 2006 What is a COST Action? MC = Management Committee COST OFFICE COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS (CSO) COST National Coordinators COST Domain Committees (9 June 2006) COST Actions (~200) F&A …… ….. …….. WORKING GROUPS (NETWORKS) …… ~ researchers Scientific Domain ……. Council COST Secretariat Action WGs MC

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 8 January 2006 COST Actions – what is supported? Science management meetings (MC and WG)Science management meetings (MC and WG) Scientific workshops and seminarsScientific workshops and seminars Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) Training Schools and Research ConferencesTraining Schools and Research Conferences Evaluations and StudiesEvaluations and Studies DisseminationDissemination Nationally funded projects (min. 5 signatories) with a joint work programme are supported in:

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 9 January 2006 COST Actions – Running Actions (Running any time of the year - status 30/11/2005)

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 10 January 2006 COST reforms it’s governance and structure These changes help COST playing its distinct role within the ERA and enhancing its contribution to the Lisbon process. The COST CSO took two major decisions to advance the reform process of COST during its 163 rd meeting November 2005: 1.The scientific and technical Domains in COST will be completely restructured. 9 strategic Domain Committees instead of former 12 Technical Committees will supply advice to the CSO. Presently the nomination procedure for the Domain committee members is under way. This new committee structure will be in place 1 June A majority voting procedure has been adopted for CSO decisions. Instead of making decisions by consensus only, now a simple majority of ¾ of the COST Member States decides. This will have a significant impact on the COST governance. 3.An Open Call system will be introduced in March This will improve transparency, secure quality and introduce an element of competitivity to the COST Actions.

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 11 January 2006 COST governance

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 12 January 2006 COST Scientific and Technical Domains 1.Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences 2.Food and Agriculture 3.Forests, their Products and Services 4.Materials, Physical & Nanosciences 5.Chemistry and Molecular Sciences & Technologies 6.Earth System Science & Environmental Management 7.Information & Communication Technologies 8.Transport & Urban Development 9.Individuals, Society, Culture & Health The CSO has decided to restructure the scientific and technical Domains in COST in November Presently the nomination procedure for the Domain committee members is under way. This new committee structure will be in place 1 June 2006.

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 13 January 2006 COST will publish an “Open Call” in March 2006COST will publish an “Open Call” in March 2006 selection criteria published in a transparent wayselection criteria published in a transparent way emphasis will be on young researchers to foster their joint efforts to become better known and recognisedemphasis will be on young researchers to foster their joint efforts to become better known and recognised there will be specific collection dates (i.e. end May 2006)there will be specific collection dates (i.e. end May 2006) 2 stage process / peer reviewed2 stage process / peer reviewed first Actions following the “Open Call” to start early 2007first Actions following the “Open Call” to start early 2007 Next steps ”Open Call“:

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 14 January 2006 Next steps - timetable 2 nd collection date DC Nominations New Domain Actions 2 stage evaluation process DCs operational Old Domain Actions 1 st collection date Open Call CSO decision FP6 contract FP7

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 15 January 2006 COST Office

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research 16 January 2006 Contact: Dr.-Ing. Martin Grabert Director COST Office Av. Louise 149 B 1050 Brussels