The European Cooperation in Science & Technology (COST) funds interdisciplinary research networks (COST Actions) involving researchers, innovators & other professionals that are interested in investigating a topic of their choice for 4 years.
In the 2026 call, up to 80 projects will be funded.

• Min. 7 participants from 7 different COST Member States
• ≥50% must be from a “widening country"
• ≥40% of participants must be Young Researchers & Innovators
• “Main” and “Secondary Proposers” can only participate in 1 proposal per call.
• CH-based applicants are fully eligible

COST Actions finance:
• networking activities, workshops & conferences
• short mobilities
• training schools
• communication & dissemination activities
Research-related costs are not eligible.
Average grant for a 4-year action is around EUR 600K. No budget forecast is requested at proposal stage.

The evaluation follows a three-steps process:
• evaluation by independent external experts
• consensus & quality check
• selection by the COST Scientific Committee
Results should be out by May 2027.

Proposals are evaluated based on:
• Excellence in science, technology, and networking (0–5)
• Impact (0–5)
• Implementation (0–3)
Proposals that do not achieve the threshold score of 3 out of 5 in either the first or the second criterion will not be funded.

• Create an eligible team
• Focus on relevance & timeliness
• Emphasize objectives/innovation & present a clear plan
• Explain how your network will tackle the challenges
• Demonstrate the impact for science & society
• What tangible results are expected
Your proposal must remain anonymous!

You can join an ongoing COST Action as:
• Working Group Member (contact the Chair or the Management Committee Member/s MCM)
• MCM (via your COST National Coordinator)
• participant from a non-COST country
The COST website lists all Actions with descriptions and contact details.