1

European COCOoperation in the field of SScientific and TTechnical research

Overview

COST B27 ENOC Joint WGs Meeting Swansea UK, 16-18 September 2006

Professor Hans STØDKILDE-JØRGENSEN MR Research Centre

Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of Aarhus

Danemark

2

COST missionCOST mission

Strengthen Europe in scientific and technical Strengthen Europe in scientific and technical research for peaceful purposes through the research for peaceful purposes through the

support of cooperation and interaction support of cooperation and interaction between European researchersbetween European researchers

3

• European European COCOoperation in the field of operation in the field of SScientific and cientific and TTechnical echnical researchresearch– 1971 - Ministerial Conference, Brussels: launching of COST, a 1971 - Ministerial Conference, Brussels: launching of COST, a

Framework for coordinating nationally funded research in EuropeFramework for coordinating nationally funded research in Europe

• ParticipationParticipation– 34 COST Member States and 1 cooperating state34 COST Member States and 1 cooperating state

– International organisations and research institutions from non-COST International organisations and research institutions from non-COST countriescountries

– The European Commission through the Framework ProgrammeThe European Commission through the Framework Programme

• COST ActionsCOST Actions– Networked research projectsNetworked research projects

What is COST?What is COST?

4

COST Member StatesCOST Member States

The 25 EU Member StatesThe 25 EU Member States

EFTA Member StatesEFTA Member States IcelandIceland

NorwayNorway

SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Candidate Countries Candidate Countries BulgariaBulgaria

Croatia Croatia

RomaniaRomania

TurkeyTurkey

Other Countries Other Countries Serbia and MontenegroSerbia and Montenegro**

FYR of Macedonia (FYROM)FYR of Macedonia (FYROM)**

COST Co-operating StatesCOST Co-operating States IsraelIsrael * not associated with FP

COST COST CountriesCountries

5

COST characteristicsCOST characteristics

• Co-ordination through Co-ordination through networkingnetworking

• Pan-EuropeanPan-European

• Multi-disciplinary Multi-disciplinary

“Non-competitive”“Non-competitive” (pre-normative; public utility)(pre-normative; public utility)

• National financing of National financing of researchers and projects researchers and projects – national responsibility– national responsibility

• Bottom-up Bottom-up – no fixed programme– no fixed programme

• Flexible participation – join in Flexible participation – join in if you are interestedif you are interested

• ““Interdisciplinary Exploratoria”Interdisciplinary Exploratoria”

• Enabling agent: focus on Enabling agent: focus on younger researchersyounger researchers

• Open to wider cooperationOpen to wider cooperation

6

COST Actions: global participationCOST Actions: global participation

Total number of participations in running Actions: 120 (incl. 5 NGO)

Australia - 7

Argentina - 2

China - 10

Japan - 6

Canada - 22

New-Zealand - 1

South Africa - 1

Albania - 1

Bosnia & Herzegovina - 1 Armenia - 1

Ethiopia - 1

Eritrea - 1

Ukraina - 15Russia - 27

USA - 14Rep of Korea - 1China (Taiwan) - 1

China (Macao) - 1

Brazil - 1

Algeria - 1

India - 1

7

(Total: 82)

Algeria (1)

Armenia (2)

Argentina (1)

Australia (3)

Canada (13)

China (4)

India (1)Eritrea (1)

Japan (6)Others (3)

Russia (23)

Ukraine (10)USA (16)

8

Number of Actions per domain Number of Actions per domain 20052005

(Status on 31st December)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

9

Agriculture and Biotechnology 1.514.439Chemistry 1.334.631Environment 639.225Food Technology 507.732 Forests and Forestry Products 1.753.348Materials 861.352Medicine and Health 948.987 Metereology 932.935 Miscellaneous 188.484 Physics 742.262 Social Sciences 982.630 TIST 1.737.296 Transport 683.812 Urban Civil Engineering 672.868

TOTAL (€) 13,500,000

COST Domain Allocation 2005COST Domain Allocation 2005

10

COST Scientific and Technical COST Scientific and Technical DomainsDomains

1.1. Biomedicine and Molecular BiosciencesBiomedicine and Molecular Biosciences

2.2. Chemistry and Molecular Sciences & TechnologiesChemistry and Molecular Sciences & Technologies

3.3. Earth System Science & Environmental Management Earth System Science & Environmental Management

4.4. Food & Agriculture Food & Agriculture

5.5. Forests, their Products and ServicesForests, their Products and Services

6.6. Individuals, Society, Culture & Health Individuals, Society, Culture & Health

7.7. Information & Communication TechnologiesInformation & Communication Technologies

8.8. Materials, Physical & NanosciencesMaterials, Physical & Nanosciences

9.9. Transport & Urban DevelopmentTransport & Urban Development

The new Domains, as from 1 June 2006:The new Domains, as from 1 June 2006:

11

BioMedicine emphasises acquisition of knowledge of normal functions of the human body and alterations of them in the case of diseases.

These functions may be conducted at the molecular and the whole body level, not excluding its integration in the environment (food, water supply, pollutants, forests, urban environment, etc.).

Molecular Biosciencesencompass all areas of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Besides humans this concern research in plants, viruses, micro-organisms, and animals.

Furthermore, also included are issues of genome and proteins; studies of the CNS, immune system, cell migration, cancer, cellular mechanisms of diseases, contagious diseases (animals to humans transmissible diseases included), tropical diseases.

12

Also within the scope BMBS :

Advanced imaging and treatment techniques (basic research, diagnosis, treatment procedures), medical devices and new medicines, advanced

medical research on biomaterials.

Micro and nano-medicine, biomedicine/ molecular bioscience and pharmacology in extreme conditions (climate change, and outer space conditions).

Bioinformatics, medical physics and chemistry, mathematical models in medicine, biomedical engineering

Cognitive Neurosciences

Brain assisting technology

Environmental pollution

13Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

H O

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Gadolinium

Gadolinium

Poison

Poison

14

15

The future of biotechnology within the next decade

Electronic interface in paralyzed patients

Disconnectionbetween brainand muscles dueto fractures ofthe spine

Bio-compatibly implanted electrode systems:artificial vision, cochlea transplants and electrode systems implanted in the human cortex to control muscles in the extremities in spinal cord injury. This demonstrate the potential of using micro- electronics and embedded software for compensating for functional loss in man – the so-called brain assisting technology

16

Ad Hoc Focus Groups within BMBS

Integration of the new subject areas within BMBS

Monitoring of cross-disciplinary activities for identification shared and inter-disciplinary research activities and interests

Coordination with other subsidizing EU groups.

Presenting new scientific trends: workshops, reports etc.

Providing information to decision makers on the implications of new R/D developments for society, e.g. human and environmental pollution from new toxic nano-particles.

Formation of an editorial group that could be responsible for an internet journal – an “EU Research Bulletin".

17

COST & Cultural Heritage

COST STRATEGIC WORKSHOP

COST AND CULTURAL HERITAGE: CROSSING BORDERS

Florence, 19-21 October 2005

18

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research

COST STRATEGIC WORKSHOP“Food and Health: The Way

Forward”1-3 February 2006

Théâtre du Résidence PalaceRue de la Loi 155B-1040 Bruxelles

Belgium

19

European European COCOoperation in the field of operation in the field of SScientific and cientific and TTechnical researchechnical research

20

• COST published an “Open Call” 3 April 2006 to COST published an “Open Call” 3 April 2006 to improve transparency, secure quality and introduce an improve transparency, secure quality and introduce an element of competitivity to the selection of COST element of competitivity to the selection of COST ActionsActions

• selection criteria are published and transparentselection criteria are published and transparent

• emphasis will be on young researchers to foster their emphasis will be on young researchers to foster their joint efforts to become better known and recognisedjoint efforts to become better known and recognised

• specific collection dates are foreseen (i.e. 31 Mayspecific collection dates are foreseen (i.e. 31 May 2006)2006)

• 2 stage process / peer reviewed 2 stage process / peer reviewed

• first COST Actions following the “Open Call” to start first COST Actions following the “Open Call” to start early 2007early 2007

COST Open Call for proposals (1)COST Open Call for proposals (1)

21

COST Open Call for proposals (3)COST Open Call for proposals (3)Selection process – Criteria Preliminary Proposal:Selection process – Criteria Preliminary Proposal:

• Does the proposed network address real current Does the proposed network address real current problems/scientific issues?problems/scientific issues?

• Would the proposed network make a significant difference?Would the proposed network make a significant difference?

• What is the level of innovation and/or originalityWhat is the level of innovation and/or originality in the proposed in the proposed Action?Action?

• Networking aside, how great are the potential benefits of the Networking aside, how great are the potential benefits of the proposed Action?proposed Action?

• Is COST the best mechanism for achieving the Actions’ Is COST the best mechanism for achieving the Actions’ objectives?objectives?

• Is the proposed Action presented in a clear and understandable Is the proposed Action presented in a clear and understandable way?way?

22

Response to Call for proposals ( May 2006)

Austria 39 France 65 FYR of Macedonia 3

Belgium 32 United Kingdom 75 Malta 3

Bulgaria 26 Greece 21 Netherlands 46

Switzerland 26 Croatia 1 Norway 9

Serbia and Montenegro

4 Hungary 6 Poland 11

Cyprus 2 Ireland 19 Portugal 19

Czech Republic 8 Israel 8 Romania 31

Germany 112 Iceland 4 Sweden 22

Denmark 11 Italy 104 Slovenia 5

Estonia 5 Lithuania 4 Slovakia 7

Spain 67 Luxembourg 1 Turkey 8

Finland 20

TOTAL 824

23

COST Actions – what activities?COST Actions – what activities?

• Science management meetingsScience management meetings• Scientific workshops and seminarsScientific workshops and seminars• Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)• Training Schools and Research ConferencesTraining Schools and Research Conferences• DisseminationDissemination

Nationally funded projects (min. 5 signatories) with a Nationally funded projects (min. 5 signatories) with a

joint work programme are receive finance for:joint work programme are receive finance for:

24

COST helps by pooling resourcesCOST helps by pooling resources

Source: Research Europe 11-2005

Ch

an

ge

ove

r th

e p

erio

d 2

00

0-2

00

3 [

%]