CENTREPEACE at the Aleksanteri Conference 2025
CENTREPEACE presented at the Aleksanteri Conference 2025 with contributions on political change in Eastern Partnership countries and EU engagement in de facto states.
CENTREPEACE RMA Breakfast: Funding Without Borders – Understanding COST Actions
On October 29, 2025, CENTREPEACE hosted an RMA Breakfast titled “Funding Without Borders: Understanding COST Actions and Their Role in International Research.” The session was led by Dr. Vladimir Vučković, an active participant in a COST Action, who introduced the audience to the structure, benefits, and opportunities of COST networks.
On 29 October 2025, CENTREPEACE organised another session in its RMA Breakfast series, this time dedicated to the topic of COST Actions — an important instrument for international research cooperation. The invited speaker, Dr. Vladimir Vučković, shared his experience as a member of an ongoing COST Action and offered practical insights into how these networks function.
At the beginning of his lecture, Dr. Vučković introduced COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) as a unique networking instrument that enables researchers and innovators across Europe — and beyond — to collaborate in an open, inclusive, and interdisciplinary environment. Unlike traditional funding schemes, COST Actions do not fund research directly, but they provide crucial support by building networks, sharing knowledge, organising events, and accelerating research careers.
He highlighted two key advantages of COST:
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full freedom of topic selection,
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a low barrier to entry, making it accessible to researchers at various career stages.
Dr. Vučković then described the basic rules of COST Actions. These networks typically run for four years, must include at least seven countries, and consist of activities focusing on research coordination and capacity building. COST Actions pool resources and results through networking rather than direct research funding.
The lecture further explained the typical structure of a COST Action, including the Management Committee, Working Groups, and horizontal groups, as well as the roles they play. Dr. Vučković outlined the procedures for joining Working Groups or applying to become part of the Management Committee.
He also introduced the COST Action in which he is currently involved — the OPEN Action, which examines how rising nationalism and geopolitical tensions affect the openness of European higher education and research. The Action explores issues of academic freedom, open science, institutional autonomy, and international engagement. Dr. Vučković provided concrete examples of activities organised within the network.
The session concluded with a discussion on the value of COST Actions for researchers. Even though these networks do not cover salaries, they are invaluable for building collaborations, finding partners for future international projects, and enhancing researchers’ visibility and expertise.
