European COoperation in Science and Technology1
European COoperation in Science and Technology
Rita WardNational Coordinator
Presentation to UCD Humanities Institute20th October 2010
European COoperation in Science and Technology2
• European COoperation in Science and Technology(2010 name change)
– 1971 - Ministerial Conference, Brussels: launching of COST, a Framework for coordinating nationally funded research in Europe European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research
• Participation– 35 COST Member States and 1 cooperating state– International organisations and research institutions from non-COST
countries– The European Commission through the Framework Programme
• COST Actions– Networked research projects
What is COST?
European COoperation in Science and Technology3
COST characteristics
• Co-ordination through cooperation in networks
• Pan-European
• Multi-disciplinary
• National financing of researchers and projects – national responsibility
•• Equal access / Open CallEqual access / Open Call
•• Building bridgesBuilding bridges
• “Bottom-up” –no fixed programme
• Flexible participation –join in if you are interested
• “Interdisciplinary Exploratoria”
• Enabling agent –focus on younger researchers
• Open to global cooperation
European COoperation in Science and Technology4
The 27 EU Member States EFTA Member States
Iceland Norway Switzerland
Acceding & Candidate Countries Croatia FYR of Macedonia (FYROM) Turkey
Potential Candidate CountriesRepublic of Serbia
COST Co-operating StatesIsrael
Bosnia & Herzegovina ( May 2009)
COST Countries
European COoperation in Science and Technology5
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 between participation is confirmed by an exchange of letters between the organisation and the CSOthe organisation and the CSO
nonnon--COST institutions may not vote in the MCCOST institutions may not vote in the MC
Organisations from non-COST countries
May participate on an May participate on an ““Action by ActionAction by Action”” basis given:basis given:
European COoperation in Science and Technology6
COST Actions: global participation in 2008
227 participations in 89 Actions (30 countries)227 participations in 89 Actions (30 countries)
BELARUS
EGYPT
ALGERIA
TUNISIA
GEORGIA
PAPUANEW GUINEA
Australia (34)
Japan (13)
Canada (20)
New Zealand (14)
Russia (50)
USA (29)Rep of Korea (4)
Algeria (3)
India (1)
Hong Kong (1)
South Africa (4)
Cuba (1)
Argentina (4)
Brazil (1)
Vietnam (1)
Malaysia (1)Colombia (1)
Morocco (2)Palestinian auth. (1)
Andorra (1)Albania (1)
Egypt (3)
Georgia (5)Azerbaijan (1)
Ukraine (16)Moldova (3)
Tunisia (3)China (7)
Bosnia &Herzegovina (2)
COST countriesCOST countries
Neighbouring Neighbouring countriescountriesReciprocal Reciprocal agreements agreements countriescountries
European COoperation in Science and Technology7
COST Actions: global participation (Status April 2010)
COST countriesCOST countries
Neighbouring Neighbouring countriescountriesReciprocal Reciprocal agreements agreements countriescountries 356 participations in 129 Actions (36 countries)356 participations in 129 Actions (36 countries)
EGYPT
GEORGIA
SRILANKA
MALAYSIA
PAPUANEW GUINEA
Australia (68)
Japan (11)
Canada (19)
New Zealand (41)
Russia (44)
USA (42)Rep of Korea (4)
Algeria (1)
India (5)
Hong Kong (2)
South Africa (23)Argentina (7)
Brazil (4)
Colombia (2)
Morocco (6)
Andorra (1)
Egypt (7)
Georgia (7)
Ukraine (18)
Tunisia (9)China (4)Armenia (3)
Albania (3)
Lebanon (5)
Belarus (4)
Mexico (2)Pakistan (1)
Singapore (2)
UAE (1)
Moldova (4)
Palestinian auth. (1)
Chile (1)
Mauritius (1)
Sudan (1)Saudi Arabia (1)
Uruguay (1)
European COoperation in Science and Technology9
• Science management meetings• Scientific workshops and seminars• Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)• Training Schools and Research Conferences• Dissemination
• Average funding about €100 000 per year per Action, (typically for four years)
COST ActionsCOST Actions: Nationally funded projects (min. 5 participating countries) with a joint work programme receive finance for:
Strategic WorkshopsStrategic Workshops: : to explore future scientific or societal needs,support policy developments or initiate new activities
What is funded by COST?
European COoperation in Science and Technology10
10 COST Domain
Committees
COST Actions(~240)
MC = Management Committee
COST OFFICE
COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS (CSO) COST National Coordinators
F&A ……….. ……..
WORKING GROUPS (NETWORKS) …… ~30.000 researchersScientific Domain
…….
CouncilCOST
Secretariat
Action WGs
MC
COST Structure
European COoperation in Science and Technology11
COST Scientific & Technical Domains (1) (June 2010 – May 2014)
10 Domain Committees
Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences (BMBS) Dr Ian Marison, DCU
Chemistry and Molecular Sciences & Technologies (CMST) Prof. Patrick Guiry, UCD
Earth System Science & Environmental Management (ESSEM)
Dr John Sweeney, NUI-Maynooth
Food & Agriculture (FA) Dr Charles M Spillane, UCC
Forests, their Products and Services (FPS) Dr Alistair Pfeifer, COFORD
European COoperation in Science and Technology12
COST Scientific & Technical Domains (2) (June 2010 – May 2014)
10 Domain Committees (cont)
Individuals, Society, Culture & Health (ISCH) Dr Marc Caball, UCD (Chair)
Ms Dipti Pandya, IRCHSSInformation & Communication Technologies (ICT) Dr Miguel Ponce de Leon, WITMaterials, Physical & Nanosciences (MPNS) Dr Denis Dowling, UCD
Transport & Urban Development (TUD) Dr. Henk van der Kamp, DITTransdomain (TD) Dr Daniel Kelly, TCD
European COoperation in Science and Technology13
• Assessment of preliminary proposals in the Open Call• Monitoring of Actions in progress• Evaluation of completed Actions
The role of the Management Committees (MCs)• Supervises and coordinates the implementation of the Action• Each signatory has one vote, Composed of:
– Maximum 2 representatives of each signatory Country– One representative of any non-COST institution admitted to participate– Representatives of the COST Office and Invited experts
• Managing the Action‘s budget• Submit the annual “work and budget plan”• Progress Report within a given deadline• Contribute to the Domains Annual Review Meeting to be organised
The role of the Domain Committees (DCs)
European COoperation in Science and Technology14
Life Sciences
Life Sciences
Natural SciencesNatural
SciencesScience in SocietyScience in Society
BMBSBMBS FAFA FPSFPS CMSTCMST ESSEMESSEM MPNSMPNS ICTICT ISCHISCH TUDTUD
Trans Domain ProposalsTrans Domain Proposals
European COoperation in Science and Technology15
• “Open Call” = Thematically open (introduced in March 2006)introduced in March 2006)
– Encourages interdisciplinary proposals– Improves transparency– Ensures quality– Furthers competitiveness
• Emphasis on Early Stage researchers: their joint efforts bring improved recognition
• Selection criteria are public
• Specific collection dates (i.e. 25 March & 23 September 2011)
• 2-stage process / peer reviewed
• Successful COST Actions proposals can expect to start activitieswithin 9 months after the collection date
The “Open Call” System
European COoperation in Science and Technology16
COST Open CallsCollection Date Applications Full Approved New
Proposals Actions
31st May 2006 707 (824) 79 CSO Nov ’06 39
28th Feb 2007 406 (411) 75 CSO Nov ’07 25
30th Sep 2007 475 76 CSO Jun ’08 25
28th Mar 2008 386 (415) 79 CSO Nov ’08 30
26th Sep 2008 378 79 CSO May ‘09 30
27th Mar 2009 481 77 CSO Dec ’09 30
25th Sep 2009 468 81 CSO May ’10 30
European COoperation in Science and Technology17
CSO approves draft MOU
Two Stage Process
(6 months)
Dissemination(x years)
time
5 countries sign MOU
Open CallCollection Date
Implementation(4 years)
MonitoringDC adopts draft MoU
DC assesses proposals
Assessment
Evaluation
1st MC Meeting
COST Action Life Cycle
European COoperation in Science and Technology18
COST Open Call processSelection process – Preliminary Proposals:
“CD5” 26-09-2008 (378, 5) 09-10-2008 07-11-2008 14-11-2008“CD6” 27-03-2009 (481,12) 15-04-2009 13-05-2009 15-05-2009“CD7” 25-09-2009 (469,15)) 12-10-2009 06-11-2009 13-11-2009“CD8” 26-03-2010 (468) 13-04-2010 11-05-2010 14-05-2010
Eli
gib
ilit
y C
heck
Eli
gib
ilit
y C
heck
All
oca
tio
n t
o D
om
ain
s A
llo
cati
on
to
Do
main
s an
on
ym
ised
an
on
ym
ised
dis
trib
uti
on
dis
trib
uti
on
Ele
ctro
nic
Rati
ng
Ele
ctro
nic
Rati
ng
Au
tom
ati
c R
an
kin
gA
uto
mati
c R
an
kin
g
Fil
teri
ng
of
the P
rop
osa
ls
Fil
teri
ng
of
the P
rop
osa
ls
ran
ked
by t
he D
Cs
ran
ked
by t
he D
Cs
Invit
ati
on
of
top
80
fo
rIn
vit
ati
on
of
top
80
fo
rFu
ll P
rop
osa
lsFu
ll P
rop
osa
ls
BMBSBMBS
Co
llect
ion
Date
Co
llect
ion
Date
1 week1 week 3 weeks3 weeks 3 days3 days
CMSTCMST
ESSEMESSEM
FAFA
FPSFPS
ISCHISCH
MPNSMPNS
ICTICT
TUDTUD
TDP TDP -- SABSAB
Minimum time span
European COoperation in Science and Technology19
COST Open Call processSelection process – Full Proposals:
Est
ab
lish
men
t o
f
Est
ab
lish
men
t o
f
Exte
rnal
Exp
ert
Pan
els
Exte
rnal
Exp
ert
Pan
els
Rati
ng
by E
EP
in
pan
el
Rati
ng
by E
EP
in
pan
el
meeti
ng
s in
Bru
ssels
meeti
ng
s in
Bru
ssels
Pre
sen
tati
on
of
pro
po
sals
Pre
sen
tati
on
of
pro
po
sals
Ran
kin
g b
y D
Cs
Ran
kin
g b
y D
Cs
Meeti
ng
of
DC
ch
air
sM
eeti
ng
of
DC
ch
air
s
Fin
al
Lis
t fo
r ap
pro
val
Fin
al
Lis
t fo
r ap
pro
val
Ap
pro
val
by t
he C
SO
Ap
pro
val
by t
he C
SO
Dead
lin
e
Fu
ll P
rop
osa
lsD
ead
lin
e
Fu
ll P
rop
osa
ls
JAF
JAF
Sta
rt o
f th
e n
ew
Act
ion
Sta
rt o
f th
e n
ew
Act
ion
10 weeks10 weeks 2 weeks2 weeks 2 weeks2 weeks 2 weeks2 weeks 4 weeks4 weeks
“CD5” 16-01-2009 27-02-2009 20-03-2009 03-05-2009 29-05-2009“CD6” 31-07-2009 11-09-2009 02-10-2009 08-10-2009 02-12-2009“CD7” 15-01-2010 12-02-2010 19-03-2010 25-03-2010 24-05-2010“CD8” 30-07-2010 02-09-2010 01-10-2010 07-10-2010 01-12-2010
Minimum time span
Dates
European COoperation in Science and Technology20
COST funded activitiesIn 2009 COST supported:-
• 242 COST Actions• 900 scientific workshops and meetings (4.3 per working day
over the year) with more than 29 500 participants• 1200 STSMs with an average duration of 3 weeks (5.6
STSMs starting every working day over the year)• 90 Training Schools with more than 2000 funded• participants• 101 high ranking publications
European COoperation in Science and Technology21
Current COST Actionswith Irish Participation
ICT 21 7 7 ISCH 14 3 3BMBS 13 6 6 CMST 18 10 9ESSEM 23 5 5 FA 20 10 8FFP 15 7 6 MPNS 19 2 2TUD 9 1 1 TD 11 11 8
62 UCD participation on MC in 55 COST Actions
Total Actions 163 (68%) (to end September 2010)
Approx 240 Actions ongoing
European COoperation in Science and Technology22
COST Open Call for proposalsCOST invites researchers throughout Europe to submit proposals for research networks and use this unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and to embark on new European perspectives.
www.cost.eu/opencall
This continuous call is thematically open. Proposals from all Scientific Domains are welcome. The next collection date for preliminary proposals is 25 March 2011.
European COoperation in Science and Technology23
COST future evolution• FP7 (2007-2013) In May 2010, mid-term evaluation report
(Annexe II Cooperation) recommended to increase budget to EUR 250 million from EUR 210 million. (Max was €80 million from FP6)
• Increasing the number of Actions to 260
• Increased involvement in existing COST Activities:• Pilot schemes extended to June 2014 (Australia 12 visits and New Zealand
10/yr)
• Pilot scheme with South Africa to June 2014 (20 visits/year)
• Discussion with Argentina for a pilot scheme
• Joint activities (COST-ESF)High Level Research Conference ; Frontiers of Science Workshops;Strategic/Exploratory Workshops and Interdisciplinary Science Initiatives
European COoperation in Science and Technology24
COST Issues in 2010
Governance & legal status- COST Office Association established 8th June 2010
COST Ministerial Conference 14-15 June (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)
Global participation in COSTApr 2010:-356 participations in 129 Actions (36 countries)
European COoperation in Science and Technology25
ContactsCOST Office149 avenue Louise, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumTel: +32 (0)2 533 3800Fax: +32 (0)2 533 3890E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.cost.eu
COST National CoordinatorRita Ward – Enterprise IrelandTel: 01-7272767E-mail: [email protected]