The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Open Call 2026 invites researchers and innovators to propose new COST Actions, collaborative science and technology networks designed to advance knowledge and strengthen international research collaboration.
COST Actions are bottom-up and open to all science and technology fields, meaning proposals can address a challenge or emerging opportunity identified by the research community. Multi- and interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged.
Funding Available
Successful COST Actions receive four-year funding to support networking and collaboration activities.
COST funding can support activities such as:
- Management Committee and Working Group meetings
- Training Schools
- Short-Term Scientific Missions and other researcher mobility
- Conference grants
- Dissemination and communication activities
- Virtual networking activities
COST funding supports the networking dimension of the Action rather than the underlying research and development work itself.
Purpose and Objectives
The Open Call aims to establish international research networks that:
- Address scientific, technological, economic, cultural or societal challenges
- Promote interdisciplinary collaboration
- Strengthen research coordination and knowledge sharing
- Advance scientific and technological knowledge
- Support capacity building and researcher development
- Strengthen connections between researchers and innovation communities
- Promote wider participation across COST Member Countries
What is a COST Action?
A COST Action is a researcher-led network bringing together experts from different countries and disciplines around a common scientific or technological topic.
Actions are designed around knowledge sharing, collaboration, networking, training, mobility and dissemination, allowing researchers and innovators to develop stronger international connections around their areas of expertise.
Eligibility Requirements
A proposal must:
- Be submitted by an eligible Main Proposer
- Be developed by a network of proposers from at least 7 COST Full or Cooperating Member Countries
- Include at least 50% of proposers from COST Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs)
- Include at least 40% Young Researchers and Innovators
- Present a clear scientific, technological or societal challenge
- Follow COST's eligibility, acceptability and proposal requirements
- Be submitted anonymously through the e-COST platform
An individual may participate as either a Main Proposer or Secondary Proposer in one proposal only during this Open Call.
Priority Principles
Proposals should reflect COST's:
- Bottom-up approach
- Open and inclusive principles
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Research coordination and networking focus
- Capacity-building objectives
- Commitment to supporting young researchers and innovators
- Commitment to broadening participation through Inclusiveness Target Countries
Scientific and Thematic Scope
COST Actions can address any science and technology field, including emerging and interdisciplinary areas.
Potential areas may include:
- Engineering and technology
- Natural sciences
- Health and medical sciences
- Agricultural sciences
- Environmental sciences
- Information and communication technologies
- Social sciences
- Humanities
- Multidisciplinary and emerging fields
Evaluation and Selection
Proposals undergo a multi-stage evaluation and selection process involving:
- Evaluation by Independent External Experts
- Consensus and Quality Check
- Proposal Selection by the COST Scientific Committee
- Final approval by the COST Committee of Senior Officials (CSO)
Proposals are evaluated competitively against COST's eligibility, acceptability and evaluation requirements.
Important Dates
Applications opened: 31 July 2026, 12:00 noon CEST
Application deadline / Collection Date: 28 October 2026, 12:00 noon CET
Evaluation and selection: Following the Collection Date
Expected decision: Within approximately 7 months of the Collection Date
Expected Action launch: Following approval
Important Applicant Information
Applicants should begin developing their scientific concept and international proposer network well before submission.
The proposal must clearly demonstrate the challenge being addressed, the scientific or technological opportunity, the role of networking and collaboration, the expected impact, and how the Action will support research coordination and capacity building.
Applicants should also pay particular attention to the 2026 Open Call guidelines, as updated rules apply to this year's submission process.
Geographic Scope
COST Full and Cooperating Member Countries, with the proposal network required to include at least 7 countries and at least 50% of proposers from Inclusiveness Target Countries.
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