The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is a funding organization established for research and innovation networks. COST is an intergovernmental framework programme funded by the EU with currently 42 member states. It therefore has a strong reach beyond the European Union.

COST funding are used to organize and finance collaborative activities such as workshops, conferences, working group meetings, training schools, short-term scientific assignments, dissemination & communication activities and virtual networking tools.

A COST Action is an interdisciplinary research network that brings researchers together to research a topic of their choice for 4 years. COST Actions are multi-stakeholder and often consist of academia, SMEs, policymakers, researchers and civil society. The grant for a COST Action covers the costs of networking activities rather than research.