COST Action · European Cooperation in Science & Technology
Networking European Security Knowledge
An inclusive, multidisciplinary network integrating diverse perspectives on European defence and security, bridging the academia–policy divide and cultivating the next generation of security scholars.
Security Studies
European Defence
Strategic Autonomy
Policy Impact
COST Action CA24154 · running 10 Oct 2025 – 09 Oct 2029
Action Number
CA24154
MoU
063/25
CSO Approval
19 May 2025
Duration
10 Oct 2025 – 09 Oct 2029
Updates
Latest News
Announcements, calls, and milestones from the NetSec community.
NetSec Grants: Applications now open
Applications are now open for all five NetSec grant categories: Short-Term Scientific Missions, Virtual Mobility Grants, and three Conference Grants (Young Researcher & Innovator, Inclusiveness Target Country, Dissemination). Open to the wider research community, not just Action participants. Submissions go through e-COST. See eligibility and amounts on the Grants page.
View grants & apply →NetSec Summer School: applications closed
The call for the 2026 NetSec Early-Career Scholars Summer School in Stockholm (9–11 June 2026) closed on 1 March 2026. Selected participants will be contacted by the scientific coordinators in due course. A new call for the next training school will be announced when the 2027 cohort opens.
View the schoolNetSec officially launched
COST Action CA24154 (MoU 063/25) is live, with leadership and Working Group structure now in place across 30 participating countries. The inaugural Management Committee plenary will be announced shortly.
Meet the team →Subscribe to NetSec news (RSS) Add the feed to your reader (Feedly, Inoreader, NetNewsWire) to see new announcements automatically.
About
Overcoming fragmentation in European security studies
NetSec addresses the fragmentation of Europe's intellectual and analytical base in security studies. That fragmentation hinders the EU's pursuit of strategic autonomy and its ability to respond to complex security challenges.
The Action fosters synergies across national and local epistemic communities, bridges the academia–policy divide, and addresses gender and generational imbalances in the field. Through interdisciplinary research, annual conferences, policy workshops, a mentorship programme, and a summer school, NetSec contributes to a cohesive European security studies community.
By connecting academic, policy, and practitioner communities across the continent, NetSec advances Europe's strategic autonomy in an increasingly complex global security environment.
1
Inclusive Network for Knowledge Exchange
Building a multidisciplinary community across academia, policy, and practice.
2
Translating Knowledge into Policy Impact
Closing the gap between research and decision-making on European security.
3
Developing Skills, Methods & Tools
Equipping the next generation of security scholars to address fragmentation.
Find out more
FAQ
Common questions on joining, grants, meetings, and the website, answered in one place.
Glossary
MC, STSM, ITC, MoU, e-COST… every acronym you'll meet in your first month, explained.
Press kit
Logos, the boilerplate description, suggested funding acknowledgements, and media contacts.
Roadmap
What's shipped, what's underway, and what comes next for the website and the open directory.
Structure
Four Working Groups
The Action's three objectives are pursued through four interconnected Working Groups, each anchored in a distinct mission and contributing to the wider network.
WG1
Building the Network
Mapping scholars, institutions, and projects into a shared directory, and growing a diverse community across European security studies.
Lead Dr Moritz Weiss
Co-lead Prof Filip Ejdus
Transfer of Knowledge
Bridging research and policy through stakeholder workshops, policy briefs, and a quarterly newsletter for those who shape European security.
Lead Dr John Helferich
Co-lead Ms Alisa Kerschbaum
Fostering the Next Generation of Scholars
Backing early-career researchers with a summer school, mentoring, research awards, and mobility grants for short scientific missions.
Lead Dr Chiara Ruffa
Co-lead Dr Silvia D'Amato
Inclusion, Representativeness & Ethics
Monitoring diversity across regions, genders, and disciplines, funding inclusive participation, and upholding research ethics throughout.
Lead Dr Revecca Pedi
Co-lead Dr Šárka Kolmašová
Calendar
Events
Annual conferences, policy workshops, training schools, and short-term scientific missions across the network.
NetSec Policy Workshop
A NetSec-hosted workshop bringing together members of the Action with policy practitioners on a topic to be confirmed. Programme and registration details will be published on the Action's website ahead of the date.
NetSec ITC Conference
An Inclusiveness Target Country (ITC) Conference supported by the COST ITC Conference Grant scheme. The format prioritises participation from researchers based in ITCs, with travel-grant support coordinated through the Action. Programme and registration to be announced.
Inaugural Management Committee Plenary
The Action's first formal plenary meeting, bringing together Management Committee representatives and Working Group leads to align on workstreams, confirm leadership for the coming cycle, and elect any remaining roles. The Action officially started on 10 October 2025. This is the first in-person plenary.
Subscribe to NetSec events
Add the feed to your calendar app so new events appear automatically. Or download the .ics file as a one-shot import.
For NetSec members
Looking for the working space?
Meeting notes, agendas, the decisions log, how-tos (STSM application, bio updates, funding acknowledgement), the WG landing pages, templates and lessons learned all live in the members' Wiki on GitHub. Anyone with write access to the repository can edit any page directly in the browser, no PR required.
Get in touch
Contact
Researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners interested in joining or collaborating with NetSec are welcome to reach out.
Reach the Action
We welcome enquiries from prospective Working Group members, MC representatives, and external collaborators.
Action Chair, Dr Moritz Weiss
moritz.weiss@gsi.lmu.de
Action Vice-Chair, Dr Marie Robin
m.p.c.e.robin@fgga.leidenuniv.nl