COST plays an important role in the development of the European research area. COST's mission is to strengthen Europe in scientific and technological research through the support of European cooperation and interaction between European researchers.
Under Horizon Europe COST will be fully funded by the Widening and ERA part and is one of the widening actions to help EU countries that are lagging behind to stimulate their participation in Horizon Europe through scientific networking.
These networks, in the form of COST Actions, can be in any scientific field and are open to all type of actors (academia, public institutions, SMEs, Companies, etc.). A typical COST Action runs for four years and has an average budget of 134,500 EUR per year.
The funding is limited to networking activities (meetings, conferences, seminars, workshops) and the organisation of exchange activities (scientific exchanges of short duration, training schools, publications and dissemination activities). The actual research is funded via other (national or regional) channels.
There are mainly two ways to engage with COST:
In Flanders, FWO is the first Contact Point for any questions related to the COST Programme. For more information on COST please visit the FWO website.
manhei.to@fwo.be
+32 2 550 15 55
Find the contact info on the site of WEWIS
The National Contact Points (NCPs) provide support, guidance, and practical information to potential applicants, helping them navigate funding opportunities and application processes.
The Programme Committee (PC) members represent their country in decision-making about the work programmes, evaluate implementation, and provide strategic input on priorities and calls.
Infosheets contain edited content on aspects related to this programme. They are reviewed at least yearly.
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Documents contain additional information related to this programme, and are similar to related links.
The YoPA project, ‘a youth-centred preventive action approach towards co-created implementation of socially and physically activating environmental interventions’ obtained funding from Horizon Europe’s Health Cluster. The project addresses the multifaceted challenges of physical inactivity and health inequalities through a unique participatory approach. The project places teenagers between 12 and 18 years old in vulnerable situations at the forefront of the intervention process. The Institute of Tropical Medicine is a partner in the project and will conduct a Realist Evaluation to understand how youth co-creation contributes to improved adolescent health and well-being in four cities in Denmark, Netherlands, Nigeria and South Africa. By integrating its results and sharing its approach in an open access Toolbox, ITM aims to contribute to fostering sustainable, youth-led solutions for healthier urban environments.