COST
What is COST?
COST is a European wide support initiative set up by a Ministerial conference in 1971 to encourage co-operation in S&T. There are now 34 COST countries including the 27 Member States of the European Community.
COST supports the co-ordination and networking of existing research and activities of public value. COST does not fund research.
Any area of S&T can be considered for COST support. The present domains are:
- BMBS - Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences
- CMST - Chemistry and Molecular Services & Technologies
- ESSEM - Earth System Science and Environmental Management
- FA - Food and Agriculture
- FPS - Forests, their Products and Services
- ISCH - Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health
- ICT - Information and Communication Technologies
- MPNS - Materials, Physical and Nanosciences
- TUD - Transport and Urban Development
What does it do?
COST currently supports about 200 individual Actions in these areas. Participation is on an à la carte basis, subject to a national approval and evidence of existing activity. COST only assists with the costs of co-ordination, and does not fund research activities. The initiative is administered by national representatives on a Committee of Senior Officials, helped by a technical secretariat provided by the European Science Foundation.
Further Information
Further information on COST procedures can be obtained from the UK National COST Co-ordinator's office or the COST website on CORDIS.