COST Actions 2026 seeks new research networks with a stronger role for young talent

The European COST programme has opened a new call to promote the creation of international research networks in any field of knowledge. The 2026 Open Call, which introduces new measures to strengthen the participation of young researchers in proposer networks, has been accepting proposals since 31st July and will close on 28th October 2026. The programme plans to fund up to 80 new Actions, each lasting four years.

Unlike other European instruments, COST does not fund research projects in the strict sense. Its aim is to create and consolidate networks that connect researchers and innovators from different countries to address a common scientific, technological or societal challenge. Funding is mainly allocated to networking activities such as meetings, workshops, training schools, short-term scientific missions, communication activities and virtual collaboration tools.

“COST Actions are an excellent entry point for universities seeking to build and consolidate international networks before taking the step towards coordinating larger collaborative projects within the European ecosystem,” explains Eduardo García, Head of Science and Education at Zabala Innovation. “They make it possible to build relationships of trust among researchers from different countries, align priorities and identify challenges that, over time, can lead to strong consortia for future European calls,” he adds.

The call also maintains its bottom-up approach: there are no predefined topics, and proposals may be submitted in any discipline, including multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary initiatives.

A stronger role for young researchers

One of the main changes for 2026 directly affects the composition of the proposer network. Proposals must bring together participants from at least seven COST Full or Cooperating Members and at least half of those countries must be among the so-called Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC), which are intended to promote more balanced geographical participation.

This year, a new requirement has been added to these conditions: at least 40% of the people in the proposer network must be Young Researchers and Innovators (YRI), the category COST applies to researchers and innovators under the age of 40.

With this change, “the presence of young researchers is no longer solely a matter linked to the programme’s inclusion policies; it becomes a formal requirement of the proposal,” García notes. This change requires the structure of the network to be reviewed from the outset and gives early-career researchers a more prominent role in shaping future collaborations.

Each person may participate in only one proposal

The second major change has important implications for those who usually take part in several applications. In the 2026 call, each person may participate in only one proposal, either as Main Proposer or Secondary Proposer.

The measure requires researchers and project offices to coordinate further in advance. Before adding a participant, it will be particularly important to check that they have not already committed to another application under the same call. “Setting up the network becomes a much more strategic exercise. It is no longer enough to bring experts together; from the outset, it is necessary to define who will actually lead the proposal,” García warns.

The Technical Annex is integrated into e-COST

The submission process is also changing. In 2025, COST introduced a new Technical Annex template that had to be used in proposals. In 2026, it goes one step further: the annex will no longer be a standalone document and must instead be completed directly within the e-COST platform.

The system also includes controls that prevent a proposal from being submitted when the established page or text limits are exceeded. The change is intended to simplify the process and reduce formal errors that could compromise eligibility. For teams, however, it means adapting document preparation to an online tool and paying particular attention to the version ultimately recorded on the platform.

The evaluation procedure has also been simplified. For 2026, COST presents a scheme based on evaluation by independent external experts, followed by a consensus and quality-control phase and then selection by the Scientific Committee, before final approval by the Committee of Senior Officials. The new scheme brings the evaluation process closer to the standard practices of other programmes, simplifying the intermediate stages and strengthening the role of independent expert assessment and scientific consensus.

Indicative funding per Action increases

The call also includes an increase in indicative funding per Action. For 2026, COST estimates funding of around €150,000 during the first year and an average of €180,000 per year during the following three years. These amounts are indicative and are not part of the proposal submitted by applicants. The funding is intended to cover networking activities, not the implementation of research activities.

As for the number of opportunities, the 2026 call announces up to 80 new Actions. The comparison with 2025 requires some nuance. At the close of the 2025 call, up to 70 networks were initially expected to be approved, but the Committee of Senior Officials ultimately gave the green light to 80 Actions in May 2026. Therefore, the maximum announced for the new edition ultimately matches the number funded under the previous call.

Competition that demands sharper proposals

The most revealing figure for potential applicants comes from the previous edition. OC-2025-1 recorded a success rate of 7.3%, and COST received a record volume of proposals, involving more than 50,000 Main and Secondary Proposers. In García’s words, “these figures show just how attractive COST Actions are as an instrument, but also how highly competitive they are.”

To stand out, meeting the minimum eligibility requirements will not be enough. The proposal must demonstrate that there is a challenge for which pan-European cooperation provides clear added value and that creating a network is the appropriate instrument. The complementarity of the participants, the capacity to expand the community and a convincing collaboration strategy will therefore be essential aspects.