COST invites Preliminary proposals for Actions contributing to the scientific, technological, economic, cultural or societaldevelopment of Europe. Proposals playing a precursor role for other European programmes and/or initiated by early-stage researchers are especially welcome. Deadline for Preliminary Proposals is 27 March 2009.

COST is organised in nine broad Domains (Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences; Chemistry and MolecularSciences and Technologies; Earth System Science and Environmental Management; Food and Agriculture;Forests, their Products and Services; Individuals, Society, Culture and Health; Information andCommunication Technologies; Materials, Physical and Nanosciences; Transport and Urban Development).

The intended coverage of each Domain is explained at: www.cost.esf.org. Proposers are invited to locate their topic within one Domain. However, inter-disciplinary proposals not fitting readily into a single Domain are particularly welcome and will be assessed separately by the Trans-Domain Proposals Standing Assessment Body.

Preliminary Proposals (maximum 1 500 words/3 pages), submitted using the on-line template at: www.cost.esf.org/opencall should provide a brief overview of the proposal and its intended impact. Proposals not conforming to the eligibility criteria of COST (e.g. requesting research funding) will be excluded. Eligible Proposals will be assessed by the relevant Domain Committees in accordance with the published criteria at: www.cost.esf.org. Proposers of selected Preliminary Proposals will be invited to submit a Full Proposal. Full Proposals will be peer reviewed according to the assessment criteria at: www.cost.esf.org/opencall. The decision will normally be taken within six months of the collection date and the Actions should expect to start within three months thereafter.Preliminary Proposals is 27 March 2009. Approximately 80 Full Proposals will be invited for final selection of approximately 30 new Actions.Full Proposals will be invited by 15 May 2009 for submission by 31 July 2009, with decisions expected in November 2009. The next collection date is envisaged for 25 September 2009.