Assessment study on impact of COST Actions on research careers

ZSI has joined forces with Erdyn Consultants from France for an assessment study of COST Actions.

The aim of this project was to evaluate the influence of participation in COST Actions on the professional development of researchers, with a particular focus on younger researchers (defined as a researcher under the age of 40). The target customer groups to be investigated were participants of running COST Actions between 2015-2017. The study was directly linked to COST’s 3 key strategic priorities: Empowering and retaining young researchers and innovators, promoting and spreading excellence (e.g. network building, career advancement); and fostering interdisciplinary research.  

Two main methodological tools have been used in this study:

• An online survey disseminated to a sample of 10,000 researchers and innovators who participated in COST Actions between 2015 and 2017
• Semi-structured phone interviews with a sample of 30 researchers and innovators, who participated in COST Actions between 2015 and 2017.

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding programme for research and innovation networks. It is one of the longest running European Communities/EU initiatives for R&I support. It pre-dates the Framework Programme 1 for Research of the European Communities. Since 1971, COST receives EU funding under the various research and innovation framework programmes, such as Horizon 2020. Its core funding instrument is the COST Actions. The COST Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and beyond and enable researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in any science and technology field by sharing them with their peers. They leverage nationally or otherwise funded research activities.

Team:

• Mag. Manfred Spiesberger (project leader)

Section: Research Policy & Development

Funding institutions and customers:

• COST - European Cooperation in Science and Technology

• ERDYN Consultants (Coordinator)

Related Articles:

• Publication: Impact assessment study for COST on career development
• Event: 2 conferences on evaluation organised by COST PROFEEDBACK in 2023

Tags: evaluation, impact, scientific networks