Cost - a platform for worldwide networking

Flexible, fast, effective and efficient networking is important across all science and technological sectors. Promoting the mobility of researchers across Europe and fostering the establishment of scientific excellence are, in fact, essential tools for the European Union (EU)  to achieve the Europe 2020 target for research and innovation which, in April 2014 was set at 3% for the EU and 2% for Malta in terms of percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

A platform for cooperation in science and technology is offered by the Brussels-based intergovernmental organisation Cooperation in Science and Technology (Cost), the longest-running European framework supporting trans-national cooperation among researchers, engineers and scholars across Europe. Cost offers this platform through Actions, which are networks open to all researchers that also offer a great opportunity to new and young scientists to learn and share their experiences with more experienced researchers.

Cost actions cover a variety of topics including Food and Agriculture, Earth System Science and Environmental Management, Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health, Transport and Urban Development and ICT.

Highlighting one example, a currently active Action is Enhancing the scientific study of early autism: A network to improve research, services and outcomes (ESSEA). This action will create a network that enables latest scientific  developments to significantly improve quality of life for individuals with autism, their families and the broader European society.

In the case of Maltese researchers, Cost goes a long way to combat the difficulties brought about by geographical insularity. It is in fact encouraging to note that more than 150 Maltese researchers are already participating in over a hundred actions.

Getting European Cities Ready for Climate Change is one Cost action involving Maltese participation. This particular project comprised an analysis of a number of European cities in 11 countries, of which only one in four had both a climate change mitigation and adoption plan in place. The action was successful in linking specialised and integrated urban research teams across Europe to tackle this challenge, and more funds have been acquired for the research to continue.

Also involving the participation of Maltese researchers is the current action entitled Medieval Europe - Medieval Cultures and Technological Resources. This action groups experts from all over Europe to create a Virtual Centre for Medieval Studies, described as a virtual workspace in which to collaborate, communicate and share work and research tools.

The project promotes social, technological and scientific advances, and an understanding of Europe as a Union of diverse but complementary heritages. It develops a key scientific resource and defines improved technical standards for academic databases, while promoting researcher employability through extensive skill enhancement.

Other actions involving Maltese researchers include Social Services, Welfare State and Places, Adapting European Health Systems to Diversity and Development and Implementation of a Pan-European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System.

A myriad of other opportunities are offered by over 300 actions currently open to researchers. The research areas are rich in diversity and nature and cover topics such as  enhancing children's language skills, air transport and regional development, and renewable energy and landscape quality.  However, researchers or research entities can still propose new themes, possibly covering more than one domain, through a year-round open call.

Cost does not fund research itself, but provides support for networking activities carried out within Cost actions. This support amounts to an average of €130,000 per year for each action and includes reimbursement for travel expenses related to participation in an action. The budget depends on the number of countries participating in the action.

Through its actions, Cost facilitates access to potential project partners and already existing research projects, while promoting exchange of knowledge, improved access to research communities, joint development of ideas, contact-making opportunities and closer cooperation among researchers active in the existing Cost countries.

In a nutshell, Cost contributes to opening the European Research Area to cooperation worldwide, and thus makes it possible for various national facilities, institutes, universities and private industry to work jointly on a wide range of research and development activities.

In Malta, Cost is managed by the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST). Forty new Cost actions have recently been published, offering more options to researchers to join networks spanning across Europe and beyond.

To learn more about the opportunities offered by Cost and the open actions, one may visit http://mcst.gov.mt/networking/cost or contact Meusac on 2200 3300; [email protected]

 

Lynn Spiteri, Executive, EU Funding

Meusac