1. 1 CO ST European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research Overview COST B27 ENOC Joint WGs Meeting Swansea UK, 16-18 September 2006 Professor Hans STØDKILDE-JØRGENSEN MR Research Centre Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Aarhus Danemark

2. 2 COST mission Strengthen Europe in scientific and technical research for peaceful purposes through the support of cooperation and interaction between European researchers

3. 3 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical researchEuropean COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research –1971 - Ministerial Conference, Brussels: launching of COST, a Framework for coordinating nationally funded research in Europe ParticipationParticipation –34 COST Member States and 1 cooperating state –International organisations and research institutions from non-COST countries –The European Commission through the Framework Programme COST ActionsCOST Actions –Networked research projects What is COST?

4. 4 COST Member States  The 25 EU Member States  EFTA Member States  Iceland  Norway  Switzerland  Candidate Countries  Bulgaria  Croatia  Romania  Turkey  Other Countries  Serbia and Montenegro *  FYR of Macedonia (FYROM) *  COST Co-operating States  Israel * not associated with FP COST Countries

5. 5 COST characteristics Co-ordination through networkingCo-ordination through networking Pan-EuropeanPan-European Multi-disciplinary “Non-competitive” (pre-normative; public utility)Multi-disciplinary “Non-competitive” (pre-normative; public utility) National financing of researchers and projects – national responsibilityNational financing of researchers and projects – national responsibility Bottom-up – no fixed programmeBottom-up – no fixed programme Flexible participation – join in if you are interestedFlexible participation – join in if you are interested “Interdisciplinary Exploratoria”“Interdisciplinary Exploratoria” Enabling agent: focus on younger researchersEnabling agent: focus on younger researchers Open to wider cooperationOpen to wider cooperation

6. 6 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

7. 7 (Total: 82) Algeria (1) Armenia (2) Argentina (1) Australia (3) Canada (13) China (4) India (1) Eritrea (1) Japan (6) Others (3) Russia (23) Ukraine (10) USA (16)

8. 8 Number of Actions per domain 2005 (Status on 31st December)

9. 9 Agriculture and Biotechnology1.514.439 Chemistry 1.334.631 Environment 639.225 Food Technology 507.732 Forests and Forestry Products1.753.348 Materials 861.352 Medicine and Health 948.987 Metereology 932.935 Miscellaneous 188.484 Physics742.262 Social Sciences982.630 TIST1.737.296 Transport683.812 Urban Civil Engineering 672.868 TOTAL (€) 13,500,000 COST Domain Allocation 2005

10. 10 COST Scientific and Technical Domains 1.Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences 2.Chemistry and Molecular Sciences & Technologies 3.Earth System Science & Environmental Management 4.Food & Agriculture 5.Forests, their Products and Services 6.Individuals, Society, Culture & Health 7.Information & Communication Technologies 8.Materials, Physical & Nanosciences 9.Transport & Urban Development The new Domains, as from 1 June 2006:

11. 11 BioMedicine emphasises acquisition of knowledge of normal functions of the human body and alterations of them in the case of diseases. These functions may be conducted at the molecular and the whole body level, not excluding its integration in the environment (food, water supply, pollutants, forests, urban environment, etc.). Molecular Biosciences encompass all areas of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Besides humans this concern research in plants, viruses, micro-organisms, and animals. Furthermore, also included are issues of genome and proteins; studies of the CNS, immune system, cell migration, cancer, cellular mechanisms of diseases, contagious diseases (animals to humans transmissible diseases included), tropical diseases.

12. 12 Also within the scope BMBS : Advanced imaging and treatment techniques (basic research, diagnosis, treatment procedures), medical devices and new medicines, advanced medical research on biomaterials. Micro and nano-medicine, biomedicine/ molecular bioscience and pharmacology in extreme conditions (climate change, and outer space conditions). Bioinformatics, medical physics and chemistry, mathematical models in medicine, biomedical engineering Cognitive Neurosciences Brain assisting technology Environmental pollution

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15. 15 Bio-compatibly implanted electrode systems: artificial vision, cochlea transplants and electrode systems implanted in the human cortex to control muscles in the extremities in spinal cord injury. This demonstrate the potential of using micro- electronics and embedded software for compensating for functional loss in man – the so-called brain assisting technology

16. 16 Ad Hoc Focus Groups within BMBS Integration of the new subject areas within BMBS Monitoring of cross-disciplinary activities for identification shared and inter-disciplinary research activities and interests Coordination with other subsidizing EU groups. Presenting new scientific trends: workshops, reports etc. Providing information to decision makers on the implications of new R/D developments for society, e.g. human and environmental pollution from new toxic nano-particles. Formation of an editorial group that could be responsible for an internet journal – an “EU Research Bulletin".

17. 17 COST & Cultural Heritage COST STRATEGIC WORKSHOP COST AND CULTURAL HERITAGE: CROSSING BORDERS Florence, 19-21 October 2005

18. 18 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research COST STRATEGIC WORKSHOP “Food and Health: The Way Forward” 1-3 February 2006 Théâtre du Résidence Palace Rue de la Loi 155 B-1040 Bruxelles Belgium

19. 19 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research

20. 20 COST published an “Open Call” 3 April 2006 to improve transparency, secure quality and introduce an element of competitivity to the selection of COST ActionsCOST published an “Open Call” 3 April 2006 to improve transparency, secure quality and introduce an element of competitivity to the selection of COST Actions selection criteria are published and transparentselection criteria are published and transparent 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 specific collection dates are foreseen (i.e. 31 May 2006)specific collection dates are foreseen (i.e. 31 May 2006) 2 stage process / peer reviewed2 stage process / peer reviewed first COST Actions following the “Open Call” to start early 2007first COST Actions following the “Open Call” to start early 2007 COST Open Call for proposals (1)

21. 21 COST Open Call for proposals (3) Selection process – Criteria Preliminary Proposal: Does the proposed network address real current problems/scientific issues?Does the proposed network address real current problems/scientific issues? Would the proposed network make a significant difference?Would the proposed network make a significant difference? What is the level of innovation and/or originality in the proposed Action?What is the level of innovation and/or originality in the proposed Action? Networking aside, how great are the potential benefits of the proposed Action?Networking aside, how great are the potential benefits of the proposed Action? Is COST the best mechanism for achieving the Actions’ objectives?Is COST the best mechanism for achieving the Actions’ objectives? Is the proposed Action presented in a clear and understandable way?Is the proposed Action presented in a clear and understandable way?

22. 22 Response to Call for proposals ( May 2006) Austria39France65FYR of Macedonia3 Belgium32United Kingdom75Malta3 Bulgaria26Greece21Netherlands46 Switzerland26Croatia1Norway9 Serbia and Montenegro 4Hungary6Poland11 Cyprus2Ireland19Portugal19 Czech Republic8Israel8Romania31 Germany112Iceland4Sweden22 Denmark11Italy104Slovenia5 Estonia5Lithuania4Slovakia7 Spain67Luxembourg1Turkey8 Finland20 TOTAL824

23. 23 COST Actions – what activities? Science management meetingsScience management meetings 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 DisseminationDissemination Nationally funded projects (min. 5 signatories) with a joint work programme are receive finance for:

24. 24 COST helps by pooling resources Source: Research Europe 11-2005 Change over the period 2000-2003 [%]