The COST Info Day that took place at the University of Sarajevo on 17 April welcomed more than 70 participants interested in the COST programme. During the day, attendees learned about the importance and impact of networking, how COST Actions promote and spread excellence within research and how to participate in running Actions as well as propose new ones. Amongst the speakers, there was the COST President, Prof. Dr Sierd Cloetingh, who talked about promoting and spreading research excellence.
COST President, Prof. Dr Sierd Cloetingh, addresses the audience at the Sarajevo Info Day.
Brain drain is a topic high on the agenda for a country like Bosnia and Herzegovina, but COST offers the needed networking opportunities that allow researchers and innovators to stay in their home country. Proof of that is the fact that over the last five years, participation of BA researchers in COST Actions has more than quadrupled. The country also offers a funding scheme for researchers taking part in COST Actions which can cover personnel costs, subcontracting, infrastructure, among others.
Dr Suzana Gotovac Atlagić, COST Scientific Committee member from Bosnia and Herzegovina, talks about the benefits of participating in a COST Action.