COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology which brings together researchers and experts in different countries working on specific topics (Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences; Chemistry and Molecular Sciences and Technologies; Earth System Science and Environmental Management; Food and Agriculture; Forests, their Products and Services; Individuals, Society, Culture and Health; Information and Communication Technologies; Materials, Physical and Nanosciences; Transport and Urban Development).
Currently more than 200 scientific networks (Actions) are supported and a continuous Open Call for Proposals is used to attract the best proposals for new actions.

For the 2010 Call, proposals should include researchers from a minimum of five countries.
Those initiated by early-stage researchers are especially welcome.
Financial support in the range of EUR 100,000 per year for normally four years can be expected.

The Open Call follows a two-stage process.
After online registration on the website of the COST Office, candidates must submit a preliminary proposal for March 26, 2010.
Selected participants will then be invited to submit their full proposals before July 30, 2010.