COST is an intergovernmental framework consisting of 41 Full Members, 1 Cooperating Member and 1 Partner Member. The 41 COST Full Member countries govern COST via their representatives in the COST Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) – the General Assembly of the COST Association.
It contributes to reducing the fragmentation in European research investments and opening the European Research Area to co‑operation worldwide.
COST funds interdisciplinary research networks called COST Actions. These Actions bring together researchers, innovators and other professionals including industry specialists, who are based in Europe and beyond, to collaborate on research topics for a period of 4 years. COST does not fund research itself but provides a platform for European scientists to co‑operate on a particular project and exchange expertise. These projects are called “Actions”. Each COST Action is a network centred around nationally‑funded research projects in fields that are of interest to at least five COST countries. COST provides the COST Actions with financial support for joint activities such as conferences, short‑term scientific exchanges and publications. Each COST Action has an objective, defined goals and clear deliverables. COST Actions have located their topic into one of COST’s scientific Domains.
The funding a COST Action receives covers the expenses of networking activities rather than research. As such is used to organise and fund events, Short-term Scientific Missions, Training Schools, communication activities, grants to attend interesting international conferences, and virtual networking tools.
An estimated €125,000 is made available for a COST Action in its first year and €150,000 per year for the other three (variable depending on the number of COST Countries represented in the Working Groups).