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| Scientists' Contributions | ||
THE COST FRAMEWORK FOR EUROPEAN R&D COOPERATION
Sylvain Joffre, FMI, Finland
ABSTRACT: COST is a European framework for the co-ordination of nationally funded research set up in 1971. It uses a "bottom-up approach", whereby any individual scientist from a COST-country can initiate a COST-Action. A "COST-Action" is a multi-year European Concerted Research Action based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving at least 5 countries. A COST-Action is run by the scientists themselves involved in the work through a Management Committee. A scientific COST Secretariat, located within the European Commission and the EU Council, supports administratively the work of the individual Actions, but the approval, monitoring and evaluation of COST-Actions lie with COST's own bodies, i.e., the Technical Committees (TC) and the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO).
1. WHAT IS COST?
COST is the French acronym for Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research". COST cooperation started in 1971 at the initiative of European Council. Since 1995 COST has been integrated in the EU R&D Framework Programme under its 2nd Activity "International role of the Community". In spite of this, COST is not a EU programme but rather a pan-European cooperative frame to support R&D coordination and integration. COST consists of 33 Member States and the European Commission: the fifteen EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey, and Israel.
>> COST is oriented towards pre-competitive research and towards areas of interest to research institutes, universities, the public sector in general and industries. It is not based on a centralised structure; it does not aim primarily to create large jointly financed projects, but to concert the research activities of participating countries in specific fields and to solve scientific and technical problems by joining forces, thus optimising intra-European synergy. There are four basic COST principles:
>> Any organisation from a COST country, and also the European Commission, can propose an Action and/or take part in an ongoing Action.
>> Participation in those Actions is voluntary and "a la carte", associating only interested countries.
>> Cooperation takes the form of "Concerted Actions" based on intra-European concertation of national research efforts. The work in an Action is administered by a Management Committee (MC).
>> Research within each Action is funded nationally. Only the concertation costs, like meetings, workshops, publications and short visits are covered by COST.
In contrast to EC Framework programme projects, this form of collaboration does not require an agreed overall research policy or programme. It focuses on themes for which there is sufficient interest in the COST member countries.
A special feature of all COST Actions is the complete degree of freedom of each COST-country to join any Action by means of signing a declaration of interest or "Memorandum of Understanding" (MoU). This legal document, which is in fact a gentlemen's agreement and expression of good faith offers a lot of flexibility without being too formal or too legally binding. This MoU governs the joint aims, the type of activity to be pursued, the terms of participation and compliance with both sovereignty and - if necessary - protection rights. Each COST Action is identified by a number and a title.
The spectrum of COST activities is broad and is distributed in 18 domains: (1)Informatics, (2)Telecommunications*, (3)Transport*, (4)Oceanography, (5)Materials*, (6)Environment*, (7)Meteorology*, (8)Agriculture and Biotechnology*, (9)Food Technology, (A)Social sciences*, (B)Medical Research*, (C)Urban Civil Engineering*, (D)Chemistry*, (E)Forests and Forestry Products*, (F)Fluid Dynamics, (G Miscellaneous, (P)Technology-driven physics*, and Nanosciences*.1
2. STRUCTURE AND BODIES OF COST
The following committees and bodies deal with the preparatory phase and the implementation phase of a COST-Action.
2.1 Committee of Senior Officials (CSO)
The highest deciding body in COST-cooperation is the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO), wherein all 33 COST-countries and the European Commission are represented. It takes care of the overall strategy of COST Cooperation and decides on the final approval of MoU proposal for new COST-Actions before they are opened for signing. There is in each COST-country a COST National Coordinator (CNC), who is also a CSO-member.
2.2 Technical Committees (TC)
Most COST-domains have a Technical Committee (TC), with the responsibility of coordinating and evaluating COST-Actions in its domain and of generating and planning new Actions. Technical Committees are composed of national representatives. TCs select new research Actions on some precise topics of their domain, examine the relevant MoU proposals and gives expert opinions on proposals to amend Actions already under way. It is responsible for the general monitoring and evaluation of ongoing COST Actions and future projects as well as of the coordination with other research programmes and frameworks.
2.3 Management Committees of Actions (MC)
Each ongoing COST-Action is led by a Management Committee (MC), wherein each signatory country can nominate two funded representatives. MCs are bodies, which actually plan in detail, carry out and supervise the work to be done during the implementation phase. MC-members are appointed by their national authorities (following proposition by the respective TC-delegate). Additional participants can join the working groups of an Action.
2.4 Scientific Secretariat
The necessary support to COST-Actions and Technical Committees is provided by the Commission COST Secretariat lodged for the time being in the Directorate-general for research of the European Commission. The secretariat handles the general administrative tasks (invitation, reimbursements) of the Technical Committee and Actions, and support the work of the Chairpersons of the TC, MCs and their Working Groups. It promotes and maintains contact with and between the different partners in each Action, and with other European organisations.
3. HOW TO PREPARE A COST-ACTION
General indications, guidance and advice are compiled in documents such as "A Guide for Drafting The Technical Annex Describing a COST Action" that can be downloaded from the COST-webpage (http://cost.cordis.lu/src/home.cfm => Documents).
3.1 Procedure
There are only some small differences in the procedure for launching a new Action from one field (or TC) to another, but the general principles are the same. In the frame of COST/Meteorology the procedure is the following:
>> Any scientist or group of scientists can propose a COST-Action through his/her/their national delegate(s) in the relevant TC or through the Scientific Secretariat.
>> The partner(s) in the planned collaborative research programme should draft a short synopsis of a MoU-proposal and submit it to one of their TC national delegate. If enough national TC-delegates express interest for the proposed Action, the TC can authorise the Secretariat to organise an expert meeting between the initiators of the proposal in order to finalise the MoU.
>> Then, at its next meeting, the TC formally evaluates the proposed MoU (against assessment criteria). If it is accepted it then goes to the CSO who will provide the final acceptance.
>> Once a COST-Action is accepted by the CSO, its MoU is opened for signature by the relevant authorities in interested countries.
>> The Action can start when 5 countries have signed the MoU, whence the Scientific Secretariat will invite nominated experts to the first MC meeting.
3.2 Content of the Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum proper contains the agreement of the Signatories to carry out the Action in accordance with the provisions of the document "COST Rules and Procedures" (COST website), with general information pertaining to the Action. Its Technical Annex contains a description of the objectives, the scientific rationale, the expected benefits and the envisaged technical content of the Action with the definition of the work to be undertaken and the plans for dissemination and exploitation of results.
The Technical Annex to the MoU (8-10 pages) constitute the main reference document for the work of the Action. It should include clear and feasible objectives, a rationale for the work (background and benefits), a plan for the organisation and a timetable, the economic dimension and a plan for exploitation and dissemination of results. There are no deadlines for submission of proposals, which may be received at any time. Depending on the state of preparation of the first draft MoU, the whole procedure can last from 6 to 12 months.
3.3 Assessment of proposals
The TC/meteorology assesses the eligibility and quality of a proposal on the basis of the following criteria:
>> Clear and verifiable objectives
>> Scientific/technical rationale, awareness of the state-of-the-art
>> Innovation and progress beyond the state-of-the-art
>> Clarity and adequacy of work programme
>> Feasibility and appraisal of risk
>> Credible and well defined milestones and deliverables
>> Size, profile and structure of the network
>> Exploitation, valorisation and dissemination plans
>> European Dimension and cooperation with other fora
>> Degree of interdisciplinarity; widening of scientific/technical expertise.
4. HOW A COST-ACTION WORKS
4.1 Rules and Procedures
The implementation of a COST Action is supervised and coordinated by its Management Committee (MC) comprising two representatives of each signatory country, who ensures the scientific coordination of the Action at national level, and no more than one representative of any institution from a non-COST country, which has been allowed to participate in the Action. It is possible to join the Action after its start, but after 6 months late joining requires the agreement of the Management Committee. With explicit permission, institutions from non-COST countries or international organisations can participate to an Action and scientists from Russia, USA, Canada or WMO have already participated in COST Actions. The main criterion is mutual benefit. The MC elects its chairperson, define a work programme on the basis of the MoU and arrange its Working Groups through which the core activities are carried out. Participants in Working Groups are nor necessarily MC members. Further information can be found from the COST website in the document "Rules and Procedures for Implementing COST Actions".
4.2 Items for funding
COST provides only the framework for promoting research collaboration between participating countries. Funds for the research work should be provided from national sources, and consequently scientists involved will have to use already available national funds and/or to apply to their laboratories and/or national organisations.
Community funding is kept to a minimum, and covers mainly administrative costs. The individual countries themselves bear the research and development costs, either by awarding special research funding or subsidies, or by providing research laboratories and the requisite staff. The European Commission is normally responsible for part of the coordination expenses, i.a. technical secretariat, MC and working group meetings, workshops, publications. The average spending per COST Action currently amounts to about 60-80 kEuro per year. Other characteristic items financed by COST are:
>> Short-Term Scientific Missions (a 1500 Euro): financial contribution in order to exchange researchers, postdocs, etc. with the approval of the MC;
>> Study contracts (a 11 000 Euro) on specific approved items, but in a very limited number;
>> Outside invitees to MC meetings or workshops.
5. ACTIONS IN THE FIELD OF METEOROLOGY
Since the beginning of COST, more than 20 Actions in the field of meteorology have been approved (see Annex). The first Action was the one that led to the creation of the European Centre for Mid-range Weather Forecast (ECMWF). These Actions cover very different fields from nowcasting to air pollution dispersion models through wave spectra observations from satellites. A brief historical review is given in a companion article to appear in the next Issue 43 of the EURASAP Newsletter. The Technical Committee is mandated to continuously review potential new themes for COST Actions and to suggest new proposals.
There is a current need and tendency of furthering European integration in the field of R&D in order to cope with common issues and challenge, to create a real European Research Area with increased mobility of researchers and ideas and to enable synergies between various expertise throughout Europe. As a long successful and flexible framework, COST will certainly continue to provide researchers with a mechanism able to cope with these goals and what is more, on researchers' terms.
ANNEX 1a: COST Actions in the domain of Meteorology
Action Number/Action Title/Duration/Countries Involved
Finished Actions
| 70 | European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecast | 1971-1973 | /17 |
| 72 | Measurement of Precipitation by Radar | 1979-1985 | /12 |
| 73 | Weather Radar Networking | 1986-1991 | /14 |
| 74 | Utilisation of VHF/UHF Radar Wind Profiler Networks for Improving Weather Forecasting | 1987-1991 | /12 |
| 75 | Advanced Weather Radar Systems | 1992-1997 | /19 |
| 76 | Development of VHF/UHF Wind Profilers and Vertical Sounders for Use in Observing Systems | 1994-2000 | /13 |
| 77 | Application of Remote Sensing in Agrometeorology | 1994-1998 | /13 |
| 78 | Development of Nowcasting Techniques | 1994-1998 | /19 |
| 79 | Integration of Data and Methods in Agroclimatology | 1994-1998 | /15 |
| 710 | Harmonization in the Pre-processing of Meteorological Data Dispersion Models | 1994-1997 | /16 |
| 711 | Operational Applications of Meteorology to Agriculture, including Horticulture | 1994-1998 | /18 |
| 712 | Microwave Radiometry | 1996-2000 | /7 |
| 713 | UV-B Forecasting | 1996-2001 | /13 |
| 714 | Measurement and Use of Directional Spectra of Ocean Waves | 1996-2001 | /10 |
Ongoing Actions
| 715 | Urban Meteorology Applied to Air Pollution Problems | 1998-2003 | /19 |
| 716 | Exploitation of Ground-based GPS for Climate and NWP Applications | 1998-2003 | /15 |
| 717 | Use of Radar Observation in Hydrological and NWP Models | 1999-2004 | /21 |
| 718 | Meteorological Applications for Agriculture | 1999-2004 | /21 |
| 719 | The Use of GIS in Climatology and Meteorology | 2000-2005 | /16 |
| 720 | Integrated Ground-based Remote-sensing Stations for Atmospheric Profiling | 2000-2005 | /12 |
| 722 | Short-term Forecasting Methods for Fog, Visibility and Low Clouds | 2001-2006 | /?? |
Proposed Actions
| 721 | Promoting meteorological education at schools across Europe (Accepted by TC/Meteorology 26/10/00, Rejected by CSO 15/12/2000) |
| 723 | Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere |
| 724 | Observing and Forecasting Atmospheric Icing |
| xxx | Use of water vapour imagery in conjunction with potential vorticity to improve short-period forecasting |
ANNEX 1b: Actions involving meteorological topics in other COST-domains
Environment:
| 61a-b | Research into the physical-chemical behaviour of SO2 in the atmosphere | 1972-1982 | /? |
| 611 | Physico-chemical behaviour of atmospheric pollutants | 1985-1990 | /15 |
| 614 | Impacts of elevated CO2 levels, climate change and air pollutants on tree physiology (ICAT) | 1991-1997 | /17 |
| 615 | CITAIR - Database, monitoring and modelling of urban air pollution | 1993-1998 | /18 |
| 619 | Effects of atmospheric CO2 increase on carbon fluxes in grassland ecosystems | 1994-1997 | /19 |
Transport:
| 30 | Electronic traffic aids on major roads | 1977-1980 | /11 |
| 309 | Road meteorology and maintenance conditions | 1987-1990 | /11 |
| 344 | Improvements to snow and ice control on European roads | 1999-2002 | /19 |
Oceanography:
| 43 | Experimental European network of ocean stations | 1979-1988 | /13 |
Urban Civil Engineering:
| C14 | Impact of wind and storms on city life and built environment | 2000-2003 | /14 |
Telecommunications:
| 271 | Effects of the upper atmosphere on terrestrial and earth-space communications | 2000-2004 | /15 |
Forests and Forestry Products:
| E21 | Contribution of forests and forestry to mitigate greenhouse effects | 1999-2003 | /22 |
ANNEX 2: USEFUL CONTACTS
>> Scientific Secretary for COST Actions in
Meteorology:
Zoltan Dunkel
COST Meteorology Secretariat, C.E.C., DG/Research, B7 3/47,
200 Rue de la Loi, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: +32-2-296 51 69/Fax: + 32-2-296 42 89
Email: Zoltan.Dunkel@cec.eu.int
(until December 2001)
>> Chairperson of the COST Technical Committee
for meteorology:
Sylvain Joffre,
Finnish Meteorological Institute, POB 503,
FIN-00101 Helsinki, Finland
Tel.: +358-9-1929 2250/Fax: +358-9-1929 4103
Email: sylvain.joffre@fmi.fi
>> Further information on COST, including MoUs,
Action's web-sites and COST official documents, can be obtained from the COST
homepage:
http://cost.cordis.lu/src/home.cfm
1 Domain with an asterisk (*) have a Technical Committee. The other domains are directly under the CSO
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| Scientists' Contributions | ||