1. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract The COST Programme as a tool for developing and supporting Meteorological and Earth System Monitoring Infrastructures, Technologies and Applications Sylvain Joffre, Finnish Meteorological Institute Ex-Chair, COST Earth System Science Committee WMO TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON METEOROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF OBSERVATION TECO-2010 Helsinki, Finland, 30 August - 1 September 2010.

2. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract Mission: Mission: “Strengthen European scientific and technical research through the support of cooperation and interactions between European researchers” => Does not fund research itself but networking activities Longest running (since 1971) and widest (36 States) European intergovernmental network for cooperation in research established by a Ministerial Conference of 19 European States in 1971 COST: COST: European Cooperation in Science and Technology

3. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract “Bottom-up”: initiative from researchers, no pre-defined programmes/priorities, equal access => Exploratorium of new ideas. Basic & pre-competitive research as well as activities aiming at public utilities. Multi-disciplinarity. Flexible “à la carte” participation, but broadly pan-European >20 MS Open to global cooperation based on mutual benefits Specific support for Early Stage Researchers (PhD + <10 yrs) Actions = “Acting Networks” allying nationally-funded projects from at least 5 countries => national responsibility & coordination: => Joint objectives; Work-load sharing; Concrete deliverables (not discussion club); Coordination; Synergising; Leaving long-lasting impacts after the Action; Advancing the research agenda; Leverage effect; Capacity building; ESRs to the front scene; ….. COST Main Characteristics

4. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract COST supported by a specific budget line of EU 7th Framework Programme (2007-2013): 250 M€ COST Actions COST Actions receive a financial contribution based on a joint Work Programme for: –Science management meetings –Scientific workshops and seminars –Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs): mobility interactions, ESRs –Training Schools and Research Conferences –Dissemination, publications Average funding about 100 000 € per year per Action COST can organise ad-hoc Exploratory/Strategic/Frontiers of Science Conferences/Workshops: COST can organise ad-hoc Exploratory/Strategic/Frontiers of Science Conferences/Workshops: to explore future scientific or societal needs, support policy developments or initiate new activities Practical Facts about COST Actions

5. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract COST Governance and Partnership FP7 contract with the European Commission => WGs ~ 30.000 researchers On average 25-35 Actions per Domain => altogether 250 Actions Scientific Selection, Monitoring & Evaluation

6. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract COST Scientific & Technical Domains Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences (BMBS) Chemistry and Molecular Sciences & Technologies (CMST) Earth System Science & Environmental Management (ESSEM) Food & Agriculture (FA) Forests, their Products and Services (FPS) Individuals, Society, Culture & Health (ISCH) Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) Materials, Physical & Nanosciences (MPNS) Transport & Urban Development (TUD) + Special route for trans-domain proposals

7. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract Assessment of submitted proposals in the Open CallAssessment of submitted proposals in the Open Call Reviewing and rating of Preliminary Proposals vs. public criteria Monitoring of Actions in progressMonitoring of Actions in progress Rapporteur allocated for each Action from the DC Evaluation of completed ActionsEvaluation of completed Actions Peer review by an Evaluation Panel The COST Open Call: Two collection dates per year (end of March and September) 2-stage process: 1 st stage: Preliminary proposals (3 pages) => 10-20% selected 2 nd stage: Full proposals (20 pages), external peer review panel (30%) Successful proposals can expect to start within 9 months after collection date The role of the Domain Committees (DCs)

8. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract COST = 35 + 1 countries COST = 35 + 1 countries   The 27 EU Member States   EFTA Member States  Iceland  Norway  Switzerland   Candidate Countries  Croatia  FYR of Macedonia (FYROM)  Turkey   Potential Candidate Countries  Republic of Serbia  Bosnia-Herzegovina   COST Co-operating States  Israel

9. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract COST Actions: global participation (June 2010) 356 participations in 129 Actions (36 countries) COST countries Neighbouring countries Reciprocal agreements countries Chile (1) Uruguay (1) Sudan (1)

10. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract The MC Supervises & coordinates the implementation of the Action; Promote and disseminate results; Liaise with stake-holders Integrates and supervises Integrates and supervises work carried out in 3-5 WGs (WPs) Select Early Stage Researchers Select Early Stage Researchers to perform intra-COST visits MC composed of: - Maximum 2 representatives of each participating country  Ensuring the scientific coordination at national level  But, more national scientists involved via WGs -Representatives of any non-COST institution, -Invited experts and observers Actions run through a Management Committee (MC)

11. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract ESSEM Domain: 28 Actions ~2,5 M€ / yr

12. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract Some Strategic Achievements and Successes COST Action 70 => creation of ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) in 1973 5 Actions developed data transfer standards, which through partnership with WMO, were generalised globally (radar, wind-profilers, GPS) COST 713 => harmonised UV-index (with WMO, WHO) COST-725 => phenology as a climate proxy, IPCC- report => Operational db (PEP-725 /EUMETNET/) => GEO task US-09-03d (Global Phenology) + Many strategic first steps in various Domains, e.g.: - European sea level observing system and Network of ocean stations - 1st road traffic aid system for adverse weather conditions - First GSM standards ; - First standards for low-floor buses - Some results and history: Joffre S.M., WMO Bulletin, No.51(2) April 2002, p.150-155

13. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract Applications of phenological data: climate change trends in IPCC 4th Assessment Report (2007)

14. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract Ongoing ESSEM Actions with direct CIMO relevance ES0702 - European ground-based observations of essential variables for climate and operational meteorology => EUMETNET/EUCOS, ISOWG, THORPEX, GMES ES0802 - Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in Atmospheric Research ES0903 - Spectral Sampling Tools for Vegetation Biophysical Parameters and Flux Measurements => ILEAPS, ICOS ES0804 - Advancing the integrated monitoring of trace gas exchange between biosphere and atmosphere => ILEAPS, ICOS, GEOLAND ES0806 - Stable Isotopes in Biosphere-Atmosphere-Earth System Research ES0604 - Atmospheric Water Vapour in the Climate System => SPARC, GCOS, IGACO ES0902 - Permafrost and Gas Hydrate related CH4 Release in the Arctic and Impact on Climate Change: European Cooperation for Long-term Monitoring => IGLO, GOSAT

15. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract COST ESSEM assets towards WMO COST ESSEM DC = 30 national delegates with expertise covering various aspects of Earth System Science including Meteorology, Atmospheric Sciences, Air Quality, Hydrology, Oceanography, Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Permanent Observers from: WMO, EUMETNET, EC/DG-Res, EEA, EMS => Efficient exploitation and transfer of COST results to wider forums => WMO assigns dedicated contact persons within its administration for all relevant COST Actions => interactions & coordination (e.g., WMO Inter- comparison campaigns, mutual exchange of experts) => Several COST Actions became EUMETNET Programmes, thus enabling full development from science to operationality Several ESSEM Actions have direct activities supporting WMO objectives. Partnership with HMEI (Association of Hydro-meteorological Equipment Industry) COST Actions have a wide participation basis => Effective reach-out, Wide consensus & application coverage COST Actions concern grossly all 9 GEO Societal Benefit Areas Ad-hoc Cooperation (+ coordination) with other organisations: ITU, WHO, UNESCO- IOC, FAO, EUMETSAT, ESA, ECMWF, EC (JRC, EEA, GMES, DG-Env)

16. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract Thank you for your attention! www.cost.eu More info: Sylvain Joffre: sylvain.joffre@fmi.fi Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland Carine Petit, ESSEM Science Officer: carine.petit@cost.eu COST Office, Brussels, Belgium

17. www.cost.eu European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract Allying/Pooling National Projects into a COST Action ERA Country A National Projects goals & deliverables: m, n, p, q Country B Ntnl Project goal/ deliverable: m Country C Ntnl projects goals & deliverables: n, p, q, s Country D Ntnl Project goals & deliverables: m, p, r COST Action: Achieving together goals & deliverables: m, p’, q International organisation Non-COST Partner: goal p