European COCOoperation in the field of SScientific and TTechnical research

Rita WardNational Coordinator

October 2006

MissionMission

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

October 2006

European European COCOoperation in the field of operation in the field of SScientific and cientific and TTechnical researchechnical research 1971 - Ministerial Conference, Brussels: launching of COST, 1971 - Ministerial Conference, Brussels: launching of COST,

a Framework for coordinating nationally funded research in a Framework for coordinating nationally funded research in EuropeEurope

ParticipationParticipation 34 COST Member States and 1 cooperating state34 COST Member States and 1 cooperating state International organisations and research institutions from International organisations and research institutions from

non-COST countriesnon-COST countries The European Commission through the Framework The European Commission through the Framework

ProgrammeProgramme

COST ActionsCOST Actions Networked research projectsNetworked research projects

What is COST?What is COST?

October 2006

COST characteristicsCOST characteristics

Co-ordination through Co-ordination through networkingnetworking

Pan-EuropeanPan-European

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

Bottom-up and flexible Bottom-up and flexible “a la carte” participation“a la carte” participation

Wide range of disciplinesWide range of disciplines

““Interdisciplinary Exploratoria”Interdisciplinary Exploratoria”

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

Open to wider cooperationOpen to wider cooperation

October 2006

COST Actions – what is supported?COST Actions – what is supported?

Science management meetings (MC and WG)Science management meetings (MC and WG) 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 networked around a joint Nationally funded projects networked around a joint work programme supporting:work programme supporting:

October 2006

COST GovernanceCOST Governance

October 2006

COST FinancingCOST Financing

October 2006

Number of Actions 1980-2005Number of Actions 1980-2005

0

50

100

150

200

250

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05

Year(Running any time of the year - status 30/11/2005)

October 2006

Number of Actions per domain 2005Number of Actions per domain 2005

(Status on 31st December)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

October 2006

Materials7%

Meteorology7%

AgriBio10%

Forestry14%

TIST10%

Chemistry10%

Food5% Transport

5%

UCE5%

Medicine6%

Environment4%

Miscellaneous1%

SSH9%

Physics7%

Number of Actions per domain 2005Number of Actions per domain 2005

(Status on 31st December)

October 2006

COST CountriesCOST Countries 25 EU Member States25 EU Member States

Acceding countriesAcceding countries BulgariaBulgaria RomaniaRomania

Candidate countriesCandidate countries Croatia* Croatia* Former Yugoslav RepublicFormer Yugoslav Republic

ofofMacedonia (FYROM)*Macedonia (FYROM)* TurkeyTurkey

EFTA Member StatesEFTA Member States Iceland Iceland Norway Norway Switzerland Switzerland

Other European CountriesOther European Countries Serbia and MontenegroSerbia and Montenegro**

COST Cooperating StatesCOST Cooperating States Israel Israel

* not associated to FP

October 2006

there is mutual S&T benefit there is mutual S&T benefit

the CSO approves (following MC and DC approval)the CSO approves (following MC and DC approval)

participation is confirmed by an exchange of letters participation is confirmed by an exchange of letters between the organisation and the CSObetween the organisation and the CSO

non-COST institutions may not vote in the MCnon-COST institutions may not vote in the MC

Organisations from non-COST countriesOrganisations from non-COST countries

May participate on an “Action by Action” basis given:May participate on an “Action by Action” basis given:

October 2006

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

Ukraine - 15 Russia - 27

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

China (Macao) - 1

Brazil - 1

Algeria - 1

India - 1

Number of Non-COST Participation 2005Number of Non-COST Participation 2005

October 2006

COST reforms its governance and structureCOST reforms its governance and structure

The COST CSO took three major decisions to advance the reform The COST CSO took three major decisions to advance the reform process of COST during its 163process of COST during its 163rdrd meeting 23-24 November 2005: meeting 23-24 November 2005:

1.1. The scientific and technical Domains in COST have been completely The scientific and technical Domains in COST have been completely restructured. restructured. 9 strategic 9 strategic Domain CommitteesDomain Committees instead of former 12 Technical instead of former 12 Technical Committees supply advice to the CSO. The new committee structures Committees supply advice to the CSO. The new committee structures from 1 June 2006.from 1 June 2006.

2.2. A A majority votingmajority voting procedure has been adopted for CSO procedure has been adopted for CSO decisions. Instead of making decisions by consensus only, now decisions. Instead of making decisions by consensus only, now a simple majority of ¾ of the COST Member States decides. a simple majority of ¾ of the COST Member States decides. This will have a significant impact on the COST governance.This will have a significant impact on the COST governance.

October 2006

3.3. An An Open CallOpen Call system was introduced in March 2006. This will system was introduced in March 2006. This will improve transparency, secure quality and enhance an element of improve transparency, secure quality and enhance an element of competitiveness to the COST Actions.competitiveness to the COST Actions.

In addition, a new COST Grant System (CGS) will be introduced in In addition, a new COST Grant System (CGS) will be introduced in March 2007.March 2007.

This transfer of responsibility to the Actions enables them to This transfer of responsibility to the Actions enables them to plan and implement their activities independently. A web based plan and implement their activities independently. A web based IT tool will facilitate the management of Actions and reporting. IT tool will facilitate the management of Actions and reporting.

This will become the standard management tool for all COST This will become the standard management tool for all COST Actions after April 2008.Actions after April 2008.

These changes help COST playing its distinct role within the ERA and These changes help COST playing its distinct role within the ERA and enhancing its contribution to the Lisbon process.enhancing its contribution to the Lisbon process.

COST reforms its governance and structureCOST reforms its governance and structure

October 2006

Scientific and Technical DomainsScientific and Technical Domains

1. Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences

2. Food and Agriculture

3. Forests, their Products and Services

4. Materials, Physical & Nanosciences

5. Chemistry and Molecular Sciences & Technologies

6. Earth System Science & Environmental Management

7. Information & Communication Technologies

8. Transport & Urban Development

9. Individuals, Society, Culture & Health

The CSO decided to restructure the scientific and technical Domains The CSO decided to restructure the scientific and technical Domains in COST in November 2005. This new committee structure from 1 June in COST in November 2005. This new committee structure from 1 June 2006.2006.

October 2006

COST published an “Open Call” 3 April 2006COST published an “Open Call” 3 April 2006

Selection criteria published in a transparent waySelection criteria published in a transparent way

Emphasis on young researchers to foster their joint efforts Emphasis on young researchers to foster their joint efforts better known and recognisedbetter known and recognised

Specific collection dates (i.e. JuneSpecific collection dates (i.e. June 2006, 31 March 2007) 2006, 31 March 2007)

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

Approval at November 2006 CSO meetingApproval at November 2006 CSO meeting

First Actions following the “Open Call” to start early 2007First Actions following the “Open Call” to start early 2007

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposals

October 2006

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposals

Selection process – Preliminary Proposals:Selection process – Preliminary Proposals:

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October 2006

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposals

Selection process – Criteria Preliminary Proposal:Selection process – Criteria Preliminary Proposal:

• Does the proposed network address real current problems/scientific Does the proposed network address real current problems/scientific issues?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’ objectives?Is COST the best mechanism for achieving the Actions’ objectives?

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

October 2006

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposals

Selection process – Full Proposals:Selection process – Full Proposals:Esta

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October 2006

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposals

Selection process –Full Proposal Criteria : IMPACTSelection process –Full Proposal Criteria : IMPACT

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

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

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

• 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 the dissemination plan adequate in relation to the objectives of Is the dissemination plan adequate in relation to the objectives of the Action?the Action?

October 2006

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposals

Selection process – Criteria Full Proposal: QUALITYSelection process – Criteria Full Proposal: QUALITY• What is the level of innovationWhat is the level of innovation in the proposed Action?in the proposed Action?• What is the level of originality of the proposed Action?What is the level of originality of the proposed Action?• What is the level of scientific quality of the proposed Action?What is the level of scientific quality of the proposed Action?• How relevant is the proposed Action to European economic or societal How relevant is the proposed Action to European economic or societal

needs?needs?• To what extent does the proposed Action contribute to the To what extent does the proposed Action contribute to the

development of the scientific or technological field?development of the scientific or technological field?• To what extent does the proposed network aim at involving young To what extent does the proposed network aim at involving young

researchers?researchers?• To what extent does the proposed network aim at being gender To what extent does the proposed network aim at being gender

balanced?balanced?• Does the number of countries the proponents come from reflect a Does the number of countries the proponents come from reflect a

wide European dimension?wide European dimension?• Are the proponents aware of the state-of-the-art of the Are the proponents aware of the state-of-the-art of the

scientific/technical field covered by the proposal?scientific/technical field covered by the proposal?

October 2006

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposals

Selection process – Criteria Full Proposal: MANAGEMENTSelection process – Criteria Full Proposal: MANAGEMENT

• To what extent is the plan of activities and the management To what extent is the plan of activities and the management organisation appropriate?organisation appropriate?

• To what extent are the time schedule and the targets appropriate?To what extent are the time schedule and the targets appropriate?

• To what extent has provision been made for monitoring and To what extent has provision been made for monitoring and evaluating the achievement of objectives?evaluating the achievement of objectives?

• To what extent has provision been made for assessing potential To what extent has provision been made for assessing potential application, and fostering exploitation, of results?application, and fostering exploitation, of results?

October 2006

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposals

COST Open Call:response at first collection date (824 proposals)

020406080

100120140160

October 2006

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposals

COST Open Call:response at first collection date (824 proposals)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

AT BE BG CH CS CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IL IS IT LT LU MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

October 2006

COST Open Call for proposalsCOST Open Call for proposalsOpen Call 2006 - Invitations of Full Proposals

84

33

89

22

5849

111

6771

43

12

4

11

2

8

4

18

6

8

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0

20

40

60

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140

BMBS CMST ESSEM Exploratoria FA FPS ISCH ICT MPNS TUD

October 2006

COST future evolutionCOST future evolution

FP7 funding assumptionsFP7 funding assumptions

Secure sufficient funding for the Actions (90.000 € p.a.)Secure sufficient funding for the Actions (90.000 € p.a.)

Increasing the number of Actions to 260Increasing the number of Actions to 260

More meetings (about 650 meetings p.a.) to be held in More meetings (about 650 meetings p.a.) to be held in BrusselsBrussels

Provisions for the transition period to FP8 in 2012Provisions for the transition period to FP8 in 2012

The CSO has formally approved a request of 280M € for The CSO has formally approved a request of 280M € for the funding of COST in FP7 (2007-2013)the funding of COST in FP7 (2007-2013)

October 2006

Contacts

COST Office149 avenue Louise, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumTel: +32 (0)2 533 3800Fax: +32 (0)2 533 3890E-mail: office@cost.esf.orgWebsite: http://www.cost.esf.org

National CoordinatorRita Ward – Enterprise IrelandTel: 01-8082767E-mail: rita.ward@enterprise-ireland.com