1. European CO operation in the Field of S cientific and T echnical Research

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

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

4. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 4 1 March 2005 “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. What is COST ?

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

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

7. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 7 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

8. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 8 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: YU  HR, SI; CS  CZ, SK 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:  Ministerial Conference Dubrovnik  COST Office with ESF as implementing agent

9. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 9 1 March 2005 COST Member States  The 25 EU Member States 1  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  Israel 1 from 1 May 04 2 Not Associated to FP COST Countries

10. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 10 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 1991-URBAN CIVIL ENGINEERING 1992-CHEMISTRY -FLUID DYNAMICS 1994-FORESTS and FORESTRY PRODUCTS 1995-PHYSICS -NANOSCIENCE 2000-BIOMATERIALS

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

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

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

14. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 14 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

15. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 15 1 March 2005 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 Technical Committees (TC)

16. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 16 1 March 2005 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 Management Committee (MC)

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

18. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 18 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

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

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

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

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

23. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 23 1 March 2005 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

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

25. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 25 1 March 2005 COST Budget Statistics Average for Actions / Year80,000 € Average / Meeting / Participant 880 € Short Term Scientific Missions5,000 € Average for Publications 4,000 € Average for Workshops7,000 € Final Evaluation up to 2,500 €

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

27. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 27 1 March 2005 Short Term Scientific Missions Aim:  promote exchange within an Action’s scientific objectives. How:  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:  Average contribution for a mission (between 5 days and 3 month) will not normally exceed EURO 2,500

28. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 28 1 March 2005 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) Technical Annex (MoU) - Structure

29. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 29 1 March 2005 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. Quality Control

30. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 30 1 March 2005 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. Results

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

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

33. European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research COST 33 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