This page refers to proposing a COST Action. If you would like to join a running Action as a participant instead of proposing your own, please visit our page What are COST Actions?
How to apply
Proposals for new COST Actions are submitted to our annual Open Call via e-COST, our dedicated grant management tool. Once the deadline (collection date) has been reached, all applications are evaluated based on clear criteria.
COST Actions are bottom-up and can be on any topic, however they must fulfill certain criteria in order to be approved, such as including researchers from at least seven COST Member countries, amongst which at least 50% are from Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC) and at least 40% are Young Researchers and Innovators.
Following a thorough evaluation and selection process, the decision for funding a proposal is taken by the COST Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) within seven months from the collection date. Successful proposals are approved to become COST Actions and can expect to kick-off around four months after approval.
The Open Call
Participants are invited to submit COST Action proposals contributing to the scientific, technological, economic, cultural or societal knowledge advancement and development of Europe. Multi- and interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged.
The Open Call Action proposal submission, evaluation, selection and approval (SESA) procedure is fully science and technology-driven and will ensure a simple, transparent and competitive proposal evaluation and selection process, reflecting the bottom-up, open and inclusive principles of COST.
Participants planning to submit a proposal for a COST Action will need to refer to the SESA guidelines and the Open Call Announcement, available on the Documents and Guidelines page.
Details of the Open Call 2026 for new COST Actions are now online. If you’re familiar with our existing submission and evaluation procedure you might notice some changes so please check all documents carefully.
Submission is possible from 31 July 2026 (12:00 noon CEST) until 28 October 2026 (12:00 noon CET).
Evaluation, selection, and approval
COST is committed to transparency and simplicity. The proposal evaluation and selection follows these phases:
Evaluation by independent external experts
Consensus and quality check
Proposal selection by the COST Scientific Committee (SC)
The shortlist of proposals selected by the Scientific Committee is submitted to the COST Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) for approval.
Proposals are evaluated and selected on a competitive basis, taking into account the available funds for the particular Open Call collection.
For general questions related to the Open Call please contact your COST National Coordinator who will be able to assist. More technical questions can be addressed to opencall@cost.eu
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