The collection date for the 2020 Open Call by European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) will be extended by 2 weeks, with the new deadline for COST Action proposals now Friday 13 November 12:00 CET instead of Thursday 29 October. This decision has been taken in acknowledgement of the many challenges faced by prospective applicants throughout the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Open Call marks the last occasion under Horizon 2020 for prospective COST Action networks to apply for funding.
Despite the pandemic, 45 new Actions have launched this Autumn following the results of the 2019 Open Call, which was officially confirmed on 24 March by COST’s Committee of Senior Officials (CSO). Over half of the newly launched Actions cover at least 2 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) fields of science and technology, with 11% covering at least 3 fields. 67% of these networks have attracted participation from beyond Europe and 78% feature participants from SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) and industry.
Director of the COST Association, Ronald de Bruin said “We recognise that 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, not least for research communities across the globe, who have had to discover and adjust to new ways of working. The strength of COST and the impact the programme delivers to the research and innovation landscape is a direct result of the people who make up our community. By extending the Open Call collection deadline, we ensure that we are best serving and strengthening the future of new research networks and adhering to our principle of inclusivity.”
Submitting a proposal
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The COST Open Call has been designed to be as simple as possible, with a one-stage submission process via the e-COST platform. COST Actions are open to all fields of science and technology, including interdisciplinary, new and emerging fields, as well as to proposers from all career stages. For further details on requirements for submission check the funding section of the COST website, Funding networking activities.
Further information
Open Call – A simple one-step application process
e-COST portal for application submissions
What do I need to apply for a COST Action? Infographic
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