23 August 2019 - Ministry of Science of Montenegro and the COST Association will organize an Info Day dedicated to the European Cooperation of Science and Technology (COST) Programme on September 17th at the Hilton Hotel in Podgorica. The event aims to promote part of the activities of this Programme. The Info Day will be opened by Dr Sanja Damjanovic, Minister of Science and Dr Ronald de Bruin, Director of the COST Association.
The outstanding importance of this programme is reflected in the networking of scientific teams and the promotion and enhancement of international scientific cooperation. The high reputation of COST, as well as the cooperative atmosphere in COST actions and their openness, especially for young researchers, are key features of the programme.
During Horizon 2020 (the largest European Union research and innovation program, with a fund of € 78.6 billion for the period 2014-2020), particular emphasis was placed on supporting excellence, openness and inclusion, supporting new ideas and sharing knowledge.
Since its founding in 1971, COST has been financing research networks/projects called COST action. It is a project dedicated to scientific collaboration, which complements national research funds and offers an open space for collaboration among scientists across Europe (and beyond), thereby fostering progress and innovation in research. In this programme, scientists and researchers have the opportunity to propose research topics themselves.
The average COST action includes about 25 countries, with an annual budget of about 130,000 euros and lasting four years. The United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Greece, Switzerland, Finland, Ireland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Israel and Turkey are the leading countries in COST actions.
COST Association consists of 38 Member States (all 28 EU Member States are COST members), and one associate country, Israel. Since 2015, Montenegro is a member of this association and currently participates in 100 (out of 248) ongoing COST actions, and Montenegrin scientific teams and researchers have participated in 45 implemented projects, it has been pointed out from the Ministry.
COST Association representatives from Brussels, Dr. Ronald de Bruin and Judith Litjens will inform the attendees of the Hilton Hotel on September 17 about current opportunities in this Program, promoting and expanding research excellence and impact through networking. Procedures for the participation of researchers from Montenegro will be presented by national COST Coordinator Milena Milonjić, and experience in this program will be shared by participants in COST actions from Montenegro.
