Awareness Days provide information and networking opportunities for researchers and innovators, as well as offering practical advice on how to participate in and propose COST Actions.
Over 320 people attended the first ever COST Awareness Day held in Tunisia, on the 20 February 2020. The event was organised by The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) – Management Unit of R&I Programme Horizon 2020 and was held at The City of Science in Tunis.
The event was opened by Prof. Olga Zeribi, DG European R&I Programme Horizon 2020 MHESR and Mr Malek Kochlef, DG International Cooperation, MHESR. During her opening address, Prof. Zeribi stated
“We went from a million euros in 2016 to almost 10 million euros in 2020 in terms of raising funds for research and scientific excellence projects”
“Nous sommes passés d’un Million d’Euro en 2016 à presque 10 Millions d’Euro en 2020 en terme de levée des fonds pour les projets de la recherche et d’excellence scientifique”
Pr. Olfa Zeribi Ben Slimane, DG European R&I Program Horizon 2020 #H2020 #CostTn #CostEu #CostActions pic.twitter.com/hnbdW68jLk— Horizon2020 Tunisia (@H2020_Tunisia) February 20, 2020
Director of the COST Association, Ronald de Bruin, then introduced the COST Framework programme, stressing the openness and unique opportunity for Tunisian researchers to use COST to make their first steps into European networks.
“85% of participants in the COST Programme said their scientific career is boosted after applying”
Above: Ronald de Bruin, Director of the COST Association presents the COST programme
Attendees also heard from COST Policy Officer, Bart Veys, who explained how researchers and innovators could get involved in the programme. COST National Correspondent, Mrs Amani Mahjoubi Charrad, presented the participation of Tunisian R&I actors in COST Actions including the capacities and perspectives. Dr Leila Ktari and Prof. Slim Tounsi then gave personal testimonies of their involvement in COST Actions, with both of them stressing the importance of COST and the positive impact that involvement had on their careers and network.
High-level meeting:
Following the Awareness Day, a high-level meeting was held between Ronald de Bruin, Director of the COST Association and Prof. Olfa Zeribi Ben Slimane from The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to discuss positive ways to increase participation in COST Actions from Tunisian researchers.
Further information
COST Info Day – Tunisia event listing
News article by Tunis Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research