COST Association
COST Open Call for New Actions
Submissions collected every 8–9 months; check cost.eu for current open window
Last verified:
COST Open Call for New Actions funds four-year pan-European research networks with approximately €130,000 per year, open to universities, research organisations, companies, and NGOs across COST member and cooperating states including Switzerland. Applicants must assemble a consortium of at least seven entities from seven different countries, with at least half from inclusiveness target countries in Central and Eastern Europe. This is a continuous call with rolling submission windows every 8-9 months, making it ideal for researchers building international research partnerships on any topic.
Details
| Funder | COST Association |
| Budget | ~€130k/year for 4 years |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Consortium | Required — minimum 7 entities from 7 COST member/cooperating states (at least half must be inclusiveness target countries) |
| Application | Single stage via e-COST submission portal |
| Frequency | Continuous |
Eligibility & scope
Open to researchers/innovators at universities, RTOs, companies (incl. SMEs), NGOs in COST full member or cooperating states. Swiss-based scientists are fully eligible. Proposals must involve scientists from ≥7 different COST member/cooperating states, with ≥50% from inclusiveness target countries. SNSF no longer co-funds Swiss participation via new national calls due to budget cuts, but Swiss researchers may still submit directly to COST.
Who Should Apply
- •Researchers and innovators based in COST full member or cooperating states (including Switzerland)
- •Project coordinators ready to lead a multi-country consortium of at least 7 entities across 7 countries
- •Teams committed to including at least half their partners from Central/Eastern Europe inclusiveness target countries
- •Interdisciplinary networks spanning academia, industry, SMEs, and non-profit sectors
Key Dates
- •Submissions accepted on a continuous rolling basis every 8-9 months; check cost.eu for current open submission window
- •Single-stage submission via the e-COST portal
- •Four-year project duration
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Inclusiveness is a binding gate: at least 50% of consortium partners must come from COST inclusiveness target countries; proposals failing this threshold are desk-rejected before peer review.
- ✓The seven-country minimum is strictly enforced; ensure your consortium agreement covers commitment from named institutions before submission.
- ✓SNSF has stopped co-funding Swiss participation via its own national calls, so Swiss researchers applying now must engage directly with COST and secure partner co-funding outside SNSF channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a COST New Action grant pay?
Approximately €130,000 per year for a four-year Action, totalling roughly €520,000 over the project lifetime.
Who is eligible for COST New Actions?
Researchers and organisations based in COST full member or cooperating states, including Switzerland. Swiss scientists can apply directly to COST even though SNSF no longer co-funds them via national calls.
What is the minimum consortium size for a COST New Action?
At least 7 entities from 7 different COST member or cooperating states, with at least 50% of partners from inclusiveness target countries (typically Central and Eastern Europe).
How often can I submit to the COST Open Call?
COST accepts submissions on a continuous rolling basis with new windows opening every 8-9 months; check cost.eu to find the current deadline.
Can a company or SME lead a COST New Action?
Yes, COST eligibility is open to companies, SMEs, universities, research organisations, and NGOs, so any of these entity types can coordinate an Action.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
Could COST Open Call for New Actions be right for you?
See your personalised match score for this grant and others in 30 seconds. No signup needed to preview.
See my matches free →