COST approves 80 new initiatives to strengthen European research and innovation networks

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) has approved 80 new Actions aimed at promoting the creation of research and innovation networks across all fields of knowledge, strengthening cooperation between countries and supporting the career development of young researchers.

In this new set of Actions, Portugal is involved in more than 80% of the approved proposals and leads five initiatives. This result places the country among the most represented in the program, confirming Portugal’s strong performance and the importance of COST to the scientific community.

COST Actions are open to participation by all interested parties, regardless of their career stage or affiliated institution, including entities from both the academic and non-academic sectors.

During the month of June, a call for expressions of interest will be issued for the Management Committees of these new Actions and others with open positions. Each Committee may include up to two researchers affiliated with national institutions. Submission deadlines will be posted on the FCT website dedicated to COST, where information regarding the applicable procedures can also be found in the Legislation and Regulations section.

Information on all active Actions is also available for review and represents an opportunity for scientific collaboration within transnational networks.

COST’s mission is to support the creation of cooperation networks among researchers at the European level, promoting the joint development of ideas and initiatives. These networks, known as COST Actions, contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and the professional development of participants. Each year, approximately 2,000 researchers affiliated with national institutions participate in this initiative.

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) coordinates Portugal’s participation in COST, including the nomination processes for members of the Action Management Committees.