COST Actions Open Call 2026

Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-14 20:56

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) runs an annual open call for new Action proposals and welcomes participants joining existing Actions on circular economy, marine litter, and plastic pollution. NGOs can participate in existing Actions (networking, travel funded) or join as partner in new Action proposals. Summer 2026 call expected.

Source: https://www.cost.eu/funding/open-call-a-simple-one-step-application-process/

Funding Details

Funder

European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST Association) — EU Horizon Europe funded

Funding Goal

Build interdisciplinary research networks through COST Actions, enabling researchers and innovators to collaborate across European countries and beyond on any scientific topic

Funding Amount

EUR 100K-500K per Action per year for 4 years (maximum EUR 2M total per Action); networking and mobility grants only, not R&D funding (100.000 € – 500.000 €)

Deadline

rolling (Rolling)

How to Apply

Submit e-COST proposal via e-services.cost.eu any time. Two evaluation cut-off dates per year (typically March and September). Register at cost.eu/apply-for-funding/open-calls. COST Action focuses on networking, workshops, short-term scientific missions, training schools.

Target Region

COST Member Countries (EU + UK, Switzerland, Israel, etc.) + can include IPC from India, Indonesia, Kenya, Vietnam

Contact

cost.eu; national COST Coordinator in Denmark; e-services.cost.eu for proposals

Last Checked

2026-03-15 08:25

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Minimum 7 proposers from 7 different COST countries required
• Danish NGOs can be non-academic Action participants or co-proposers
• India, Indonesia, Kenya, Vietnam eligible as International Partner Countries

Project Scope

• Actions run 4 years; EUR 100K-500K per year maximum
• Topic must have scientific/technical networking justification

Required Documents

• Rolling call — no fixed deadline; two cut-offs per year
• Submit via e-services.cost.eu; contact national COST Coordinator

Constraints

• COST funds NETWORKING only — not operational research or project implementation

Summary

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) runs a continuously open call for networking Actions. COST Actions are research networking platforms that bring together researchers, engineers, practitioners, and other stakeholders from multiple countries to share knowledge and coordinate research on a specific topic. Unlike research grants, COST Actions fund networking activities — meetings, workshops, short-term scientific missions, training schools, and dissemination — rather than direct research. A COST Action on marine plastic waste circular value chains, combining European academic institutions with NGOs working in developing country operations, could create a valuable research network that produces evidence, methodologies, and policy recommendations. Actions run for 4 years with annual budgets of EUR 100K-500K. The eligibility for non-academic participants is generous: companies, NGOs, public bodies, and civil society organisations can all participate in and even lead COST Actions alongside universities and research institutes. International Partner Countries including India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Vietnam can participate in COST Actions. For a Danish NGO with plastic waste operations, a COST Action could formalise and fund knowledge exchange with Nordic universities and developing country partners, generating research evidence supporting operational work. The organisation could either lead a proposal or join as a partner in an Action on plastic circularity, marine litter, or waste value chains.

Historical Context

Rolling call since 2016. Two cut-off dates per year (March and September approximately). Success rate approximately 25%. Actions: 4 years. Budget EUR 100K-500K/year.

Why it was added

grant-scan-list6-2026-03-14

Similar Programs

← Back to list