Consistent rise in the number of COST proposals
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Consistent rise in the number of COST proposals

30/10/2026 European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)
COST Open Call 2026 initial analysis
On 28 October, COST closed the call for new COST Action proposals (OC-2026-1). Interim analysis shows the following:
  • The highest number of proposals ever submitted to a COST Open Call, with a 27% increase compared to OC-2025.
  • All 42 COST Member Countries participated in this call as Main Proposers. Italy had the most Main Proposers, followed by the United Kingdom and Spain.
  • Over 68,000 Main and Secondary Proposers participated, which is a 33.8% increase compared to the previous call.
  • 60% of the proposals cover two or more main fields of science, which is a 5% increase compared to OC-2025. (28% Social Sciences; 24% Natural Sciences; 17% Engineering and Technology; 17% Medical and Health Sciences; 10% Humanities and 5% Agricultural Sciences)
  • 33% of Main Proposers are affiliated with institutions in Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs), which is a 2% increase compared to OC-2025.
The highest number of proposals ever with 1,390 proposals
  • Gender Balance of main proposers: 49% women and 51% man
Next steps

The proposals will now undergo evaluation. Up to 80 COST Actions will be approved in May 2027.
https://www.cost.eu/consistent-rise-in-the-number-of-cost-proposals/
Attached files
  • 202026.png
30/10/2026 European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)
Regions: Europe, Belgium, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom
Keywords: Applied science, Grants and new facilities, Business, Government, Knowledge transfer, Universities & research, Science, People in science

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