COST Training Day in Bulgaria
COST recently organised a training day in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia on 3 and 4 February 2009. Some 150 participants picked up valuable information, ready for the March and September 2009 Open Call collection dates.
By organising this training day, the COST National Coordinator for Bulgaria aimed to generate interest from Bulgarian scientists on more specific topics and increase the success rate of Bulgarian proposals.
“COST is an excellent instrument to bring brilliant scientists together so they can turn their ideas into research results. It is an important actor within the European Research Area as it tries to address social and regional gaps,“ says Albena Vutsova, COST National Coordinator for Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian Action representatives presented their involvement in COST Actions, gave their opinion about COST instruments and the tasks they have to perform as Management Committee members (workload, meeting attendance, etc.), and the objectives of their collaboration with COST networks.
The potential candidates for proposals received many useful tips and recommendations on how to write a successful COST proposal. Svetlana Voinova, Administrative Officer and Coordinator of Balkan related COST activities and Junior Science Officer Lucia Forzi provided a general overview on COST. They particularly focused on the Open Call selection procedures and assessment criteria. Presentations from the ISCH and CMST Domain Chairs generated many questions on how to put forward the best proposal. The COST CNC spoke on Bulgarian participation and Bulgarian national supporting tools. She also mentioned the country’s need for involving more Early Stage Researchers.
In addition, an informal discussion with the Bulgarian COST participants was organised. The Bulgarian MC members from different COST Domains were invited to share with the audience their COST experience and to give their opinion about COST instruments.
Information
Bulgaria has been part of COST since 1997, with the first Actions starting in 1998. During the first two years, there were fewer than 10 running Actions with Bulgarian involvement.
Now participation has grown to 175 running and completed Actions. It has seen the strongest participation within the ESSEM, FA and MPNS Domains.
The Bulgarian office has now set a new website especially for COST.
Link
The Bulgarian office has now set a new website especially for COST
For more information regarding COST Actions with Bulgarian participation.
