The aim is to harmonise nationally-funded basic research in science and technology at a European level

Summary of professional cooperation/programme

• Supported by the European Commission under the H2020 programme
• Actions coordinating the research activity of national research institutions, universities and industrial businesses
• Action objectives are determined by the researchers themselves through grassroots initiatives
• The main criterion is scientific excellence
• Hungarian participation in COST actions

Benefits of the membership for Hungary

• Good opportunity for young researchers to join the international scientific community
• Access to the latest research findings: the findings of common research projects are generally freely accessible for participating countries
• In 2015 COST actions involved 493 Hungarian researchers (youth participation rate: 39%),Hungary received EUR 612,385 from the research networking budget.
• In 2016 COST actions involved 456 Hungarian researchers (youth participation rate: 25%); Hungarians participated in 72% of the running actions; Hungary received EUR 486,000 from the budget.
• In 2017 COST actions involved 453 Hungarian researchers (youth participation rate: 28%); Hungarians participated in 73% of the running actions; Hungary received EUR 484,000 from the budget.
• In 2018 COST actions involved 450 Hungarian researchers (youth participation rate: 33%); Hungarians participated in 75% of the running actions; Hungary received EUR 502,000 from the budget.
• Hungarian researchers typically received funding in the following fields: IT, transport, telecommunications, materials science, environmental protection, forestry and forest products, agricultural science and biotechnology, food technology, social sciences, medical research, general engineering, chemistry, meteorology, physics.

Joining COST actions

To join a COST action, send a completed and signed copy of the following statement to the COST National Coordinator both by email and regular mail

Statement

Please contact the Action Chair for consultation before sending the statement to the COST National Coordinator.

Funding

COST provides funding for travel costs to Management Committee meetings, for participation at workshops and action-related conferences, for short-term scientific missions (STSM), and for dissemination activities related to action results. The research costs of COST actions are covered by the participants from own institutional sources; no central budget is earmarked for research funding. The Hungarian government’s representative may only sign the Memorandum of Understanding, which forms the formal basis of participation, if the undertaken research activity stands on solid financial footing.

According to the current rules of COST cooperation, researchers from COST member countries contributing to the budget of the framework programme (including Hungarian researchers) may request subsequent reimbursement of their costs incurred in connection with their participation in Management Committee and working group meetings.