2004-2010
Professor Francesco Fedi was President of the COST Committee of Senior Officials for two terms from 2004 until 2010 and looks back on this important role.
During my experience working with COST and under this Presidency, I have witnessed many important reforms including the recent signature of the grant agreement to strengthen the working relationship between the European Science Foundation and COST and the establishment of the COST Office in Brussels. The COST Guidelines for checking the quality control of COST Actions were continuously reviewed. We also introduced a continuous COST Open Call for proposals and strengthened the use of external peer reviews.
As a result, COST has now considerably reinforced its visibility and its role as a unique instrument within the European Research Area (ERA). In particular, it is the first time that a representative from Italy has assumed the CSO presidency. A founder member of the COST collaboration, the country has always been an active participant and a convinced supporter of the role COST plays in the ERA.
Professor Fedi on COST
COST definitively contributes to reducing the fragmentation of research in Europe. It opens the European Research Area to the world, giving scientific communities the first opportunity to participate in the Framework Programme.
