European COoperation in the Field of Scientific and

European COoperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research

Mission: Strengthen Europe in scientific and technical research for peaceful purposes through the support of cooperation and interaction between European Researchers 2 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

What is COST ? • Intergovernmental cooperation – 1971 – 17 Scientific & Technical domains • Participation – 34 COST Member States + 1 Cooperating Country (Israel) – International organisations and research establishments from non-COST countries – The European Commission • COST Actions – Concerted Actions (Networks) of nationally funded R&D 3 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

What is COST ? “COST constitutes an experimental laboratory for European cooperation which will provide valuable information for the future” • Mr. Camillo Ripamonti, Italian Minister of Scientific and Technological Research and Chairman of the Ministerial Conference convened in Brussels in November 1971, concluded the activities of the first COST Ministerial Conference. 4 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Characteristics • Networking & Coordination • Pan-European • “Non-competitive” (prenormative; environmental and cross -border problems; public utility) • National Financing of Researchers – national responsibility 5 • Bottom-up / Flexible • “A la carte” participation • Multi-disciplinary: wide range of disciplines covered • Open to wider cooperation European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Advantages of COST h Fosters S&T Cooperation across Europe by creating lasting networks of scientists & researchers h Promotes cooperation within EU, between the EU and Candidate Countries (particularly those in the Framework Programme) and with Europe’s neighbours h Explores new areas of co-operative research endeavour 6 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST History • In 1971 COST Actions only form of cooperation in science and technology in Europe • In 1974 the European Science Foundation, in 1983 the First Framework Programme and in 1985 the EUREKA Programme • The existence of these initiatives notwithstanding, the interest of the European scientific community in COST constantly increased • From 19 countries in 1971 to the present 35 countries • From 7 Actions in 1971 to an average of 200 Actions each year • From 7 research domains in 1971 to the present 14 domains 7 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST History • 1971: Ministerial Conference, Brussels / 19 COST Member States: AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, IE, IT, LU, NL, NO, PT, SE, TU, UK, YU • 1991: Ministerial Conference, Vienna + 4 Member States: CS, HU, IS, PL • 1992 - 1993: • 1995: COST Interaction Conference, Basel • 1997: Ministerial Conference, Prague + 3 Member States: EE, MT, RO • 1998: + 4 Observer countries: BG, CY, LT, LV • 1999: + 4 Member States: BG, CY, LT, LV • 2000: + Israel Cooperating State • 2001: + YU • 2002: + FYR of Macedonia • 2003: YU HR, SI; CS CZ, SK Ministerial Conference Dubrovnik COST Office with ESF as implementing agent 8 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Countries COST Member States The 25 EU Member States 1 u EFTA Member States Iceland Norway Switzerland Candidate Countries Bulgaria Romania Turkey Other Countries Serbia and Montenegro 2 Croatia 2 FYR of Macedonia (FYROM)2 COST Co-operating States 1 from 1 May 04 2 Not Associated to FP 9 Israel European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Domains 1971 - TELECOMMUNICATIONS - METEOROLOGY 1972 - MATERIALS - ENVIRONMENT 1973 - INFORMATICS - TRANSPORT 1979 - OCEANOGRAPHY 1980 - BIOTECHNOLOGY - AGRICULTURE - FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1982 - MEDICINE 1983 - SOCIAL SCIENCES 10 1991 1992 1994 - URBAN CIVIL ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY FLUID DYNAMICS FORESTS and FORESTRY PRODUCTS 1995 - PHYSICS - NANOSCIENCE 2000 - BIOMATERIALS European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST- Sixth Framework Programme 11 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Financing 12 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Governance 13 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) 2 representatives per COST Country Responsible for: • the overall strategy and steering of COST • deciding on the launching of individual Actions • approving participation of institutes from non-COST countries • approving the prolongation/extension of Actions 14 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Technical Committees (TC) Up to 2 representatives per country Responsible for: • selection of new COST Actions (quality control) • monitoring of ongoing COST Actions • evaluation of completed COST Actions • dissemination and valorisation of COST activities • strategic developments in its domain • synergies 15 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Management Committee (MC) • Maximum of 2 representatives per signatory country • 1 representative per non-COST institution • Representatives of the European Commission (observer) • Observers from other organisations Responsible for : • supervising and co-ordinating implementation of the Action • ensuring scientific coordination at a national level 16 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Structure Council COST Secretariat COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS (CSO) COST National Co-ordinators ESF-COST OFFICE COST Technical Committees (12) COST Actions (160) Transport Chemistry Physics ……. MC MC MC MC WORKING GROUPS (NETWORKS) …… ~6000 research groups MC = Management Committee 17 Scientific Domain European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Working Group (WG) • a small number of researchers working together per WG • MC members or other scientists from the signatory countries • Invited experts • Members from non-COST countries 18 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Office Structure 19 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST - ESF 20 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Number of Actions per domain 2004 (Status on 31 st December) 21 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Proportion of Actions per domain 2004 (Status on 31 st December) 22 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Agriculture and Biotechnology Chemistry Environment Food Technology Forests and Forestry Products Materials Medicine and Health Metereology Miscellaneous Physics Social Sciences TIST Transport Urban Civil Engineering TOTAL (€) 23 1. 514. 439 1. 334. 631 639. 225 507. 732 1. 753. 348 861. 352 948. 987 932. 935 188. 484 742. 262 982. 630 1. 737. 296 683. 812 672. 868 COST Domain Allocation 2005 13, 500, 000 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Yearly Evolution of the Number of COST Actions 24 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Budget Statistics Average for Actions / Year Average / Meeting / Participant Short Term Scientific Missions Average for Publications Average for Workshops Final Evaluation 25 80, 000 € 880 € 5, 000 € 4, 000 € 7, 000 € up to 2, 500 € European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Actions – what is supported: • • • 26 Science management meetings (MC and WG) Scientific workshops and seminars Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) Training Schools and Research Conferences Evaluations and Studies Dissemination European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Short Term Scientific Missions Aim: F promote exchange within an Action’s scientific objectives. How: F by allowing a scientist (especially a junior researcher) to go to a laboratory in another COST country to learn a new technique or to make measurements using instruments and/or methods not available in their own laboratory. Means: F Average contribution for a mission (between 5 days and 3 month) will not normally exceed EURO 2, 500 27 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Technical Annex (Mo. U) - Structure A. Background B. Objectives and benefits C. Scientific programme D. Organisation E. Timetable F. Economic dimension G. Dissemination Plan Additional Information (includes List of Experts) 28 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Quality Control Responsibility of the COST TCs according to the “COST Guidelines” • Assessment of proposals for new Actions. Peer review by an Assessment Panel and by the TC. • Monitoring of the Actions in progress. By TCs through rapporteurs from the TC plus an Annual “Progress Report”. • Evaluation of completed Actions. Peer review by an Evaluation Panel. “Final Evaluation Report” presented to and approved by the TC. 29 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Results • Scientific importance. Thousands of papers in refereed journals and books. Doctorates. Recognition of COST scientific Community outside Europe. • Contribution to European competitiveness. Contributions to normative and standardisation bodies. SME’s originating from COST Actions. • Societal importance. Delicate issues arising from new technologies based high quality, independent advice. • Contribution to the ERA. COST precursor of research projects (including Networks of Excellence) in the FP’s. Complementarity with FP, and with others, including ESF. 30 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Organisations from non-COST countries May participate on an Action by Action basis given: h there is mutual S&T benefit h the CSO approves (following MC and TC approval) h participation is confirmed by an exchange of letters between the organisation and the CSO Non-COST institutions may not vote in the MC 31 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

Number of Non-COST Participation 2005 Canada - 22 Ukraina - 12 Armenia - 1 USA - 10 Bosnia & Herzegovinia - 1 Albania - 1 Eritrea - 1 Russia - 22 Japan - 3 China - 8 Rep of Korea - 1 China (Taiwan) - 1 China (Macao) - 1 Ethiopia - 1 Brazil - 1 South Africa - 1 Argentina - 1 Australia - 7 New-Zealand - 2 Total number of participations in running Actions: 102 (incl. 5 NGO) 32 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005

COST Office • Address: 149 avenue Louise 1050 Brussels Belgium • Tel: +32 (0)2 533 3800 • Fax: +32 (0)2 533 3890 • E-mail: office@cost. esf. org • Website: http: //cost. cordis. lu 33 European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 1 March 2005