COST - European Cooperation in Science and Technology

Pan-European networks for the coordination of research activities

The funding programme COST supports scientific cooperation and coordination throughout Europe.

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding programme that encourages networking of scientific and technological research activities throughout Europe and beyond. COST is funded mainly through the European Framework Programmes.

Switzerland is one of the founding countries of COST and a full member of the COST Association. Thanks to this status, researchers in Switzerland are entitled to participate in COST Actions or to coordinate them and submit applications for new Actions. Thus, scientists based in Switzerland are fully eligible for all COST activities and for reimbursement of their related expenses.

Researchers and innovators affiliated with any public or private institution, in all disciplines of science and technology and at any stage of their career can participate.

By means of bottom-up and open scientific networks, known as COST Actions, COST supports networking activities, such as meetings, conferences, short-term exchanges, training schools or dissemination of scientific knowledge. Funding for research projects associated with COST Actions is provided by national sources, such as the SNSF.

COST follows three strategic priorities:

  • Promoting and spreading excellence
  • Fostering interdisciplinary research for breakthrough science
  • Empowering and retaining young researchers and innovators

Through COST Actions, COST aims to strengthen Europe’s capacity to address scientific, technological and societal challenges. The Actions involve on average scientists from 28 different full or cooperating members of the COST Association. Actions last 4 years and each receive funding of about EUR 130’000 per year for networking activities and collaboration.

The following options for participation are available in the framework of COST:

  • Participating in an ongoing COST Action
  • Submitting to COST a proposal for a new COST Action
  • Submitting to the SNSF a proposal for a research project associated with an ongoing COST Action in the call for COST Projects in Switzerland