COST approves 25 new COST Actions

The 25 new networks approved by the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) at its meeting in Vilnius on 15 and 16 November 2007 were the result of the 2nd collection date for which more than 400 Preliminary Proposals were received.

The new COST Actions cover a wide span of activities in the 9 Scientific COST Domains and are expected to work on the forefront of science to contribute to the European Research Area and focus on the involvement Early Stage Researchers for the next four years.

COST is now preparing the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to launch these new research Actions, a process which will be facilitated by another decision taken at the CSO meeting. The famous “red ribbons” which, ever since its introduction in 1978, needed to be signed by the representatives of the countries interested in participating in the Actions were abolished.

“The simultaneous approval of the new COST Actions and the replacement of the “red ribbons” procedure by a more practical – albeit less colourful- procedure”, concluded Professor Francesco Fedi, President of the COST CSO, “is certainly testimony to the fresh wind brought to COST by the seventh framework programme.”