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Glossary

The vocabulary of COST and of NetSec, in one place. New members spend their first month decoding acronyms; this page is here so you don't have to. The same terms reappear across e-COST, the Grants page, and the MoU.

COST framework

Action: A four-year, EU-funded research network. NetSec is COST Action CA24154. Every Action is bound by its Memorandum of Understanding and runs from its launch (10 Oct 2025 for NetSec) to its end date (09 Oct 2029 for NetSec).
Action Chair: The scientific lead of the Action. For NetSec, Dr Moritz Weiss (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München).
Action Vice-Chair: Deputy to the Chair. For NetSec, Dr Marie Robin (Leiden University).
CA24154: The official Action number for NetSec. Use it on publications and presentations under the funding acknowledgement.
Core Group: A small steering body of an Action, typically Chair, Vice-Chair, WG Leaders, and the Grant Awarding Coordinator. Meets more often than the full MC.
COST: European Cooperation in Science and Technology. The EU funding programme under Horizon Europe that pays for COST Actions. Not to be confused with anything else.
COST Association: The Brussels-based legal entity that administers COST on behalf of its Member countries.
COST Member country: A country that has signed up to COST and can nominate MC representatives to Actions. As of 2026 there are around 41 Member countries, plus Cooperating, Partner, and Near-Neighbour states.
CSO: Committee of Senior Officials. The intergovernmental body that governs COST at the political level.
Deliverable: A formally tracked output of the Action, listed in the MoU. NetSec's Deliverable D1 is this website and open directory.
e-COST: The online portal at e-services.cost.eu. Where you log in to claim reimbursements, submit STSM applications, and manage your MC participation.
Grant Agreement (GA): The yearly contract between the Action and the COST Association that sets the budget for the next Grant Period.
Grant Holder (GH): The institution that legally holds the Action's budget and processes reimbursements. For NetSec, Universiteit Leiden.
Grant Holder Scientific Representative (GHSR): The named scientific contact at the Grant Holder institution. For NetSec, Dr Marie Robin (who is also Vice-Chair).
Grant Period (GP): A twelve-month tranche of an Action. Each year's budget is allocated and spent within a Grant Period.
MoU: Memorandum of Understanding. The founding document of an Action: scientific scope, objectives, deliverables, working-group structure. NetSec's is MoU 063/25.
Plenary: The full MC meeting, held roughly once per year. The moment to vote on substantive matters of the Action.
Science Officer: A COST staff member who supports the Action from Brussels.

NetSec structure

Grant Awarding Coordinator

The person responsible for overseeing grant calls within the Action. For NetSec, Dr Eliza Gheorghe; co-led by Dr Chiara Libiseller.

Science Communication Coordinator

The person responsible for the Action's outreach and dissemination strategy. For NetSec, Mr Eugenio Sánchez.

The Network

NetSec's open directory of researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners working in or alongside European security studies. Open to MC members and the wider community alike.

Working Group (WG)

A thematic sub-team of the Action. NetSec has four:

WG1 · Management & Coordination, Lead: Dr Moritz Weiss · Co-lead: Prof Filip Ejdus.
WG2 · Framework Development, Lead: Dr John Helferich · Co-lead: Ms Alisa Kerschbaum.
WG3 · Tools & Training, Lead: Dr Chiara Ruffa · Co-lead: Dr Silvia D'Amato.
WG4 · Inclusion & Dissemination, Lead: Dr Revecca Pedi · Co-lead: Dr Šárka Kolmašová.

WG Leader / Co-Leader

The named pair driving a Working Group.

People

ECI: Early Career Investigator. A researcher within eight years of their PhD (parental leave, illness, and similar extend the window). COST budgets favour ECI inclusion in grants and meetings.
MC Member: A Management Committee representative. Each COST Member country nominates up to two MC members per Action; they collectively oversee the Action's direction.
MC Substitute: A named back-up for an MC Member who can attend plenaries in their place.
Observer: A non-Member country participant who can attend MC meetings but does not vote.

Grants & meetings

Conference Grant (ITC): A grant for an Early Career Investigator from an Inclusiveness Target Country to attend an international conference and present their work. Documented on the Grants page.
Dissemination Conference Grant: A grant funding the organisation of an event that disseminates the Action's results to the wider community.
ITC: Inclusiveness Target Country. A COST Member country identified as under-represented in research collaboration; receives preferential treatment in grant allocations.
NNC: Near-Neighbour Country. Geographically adjacent to the EU/COST area; can join Actions under specific terms.
STSM: Short-Term Scientific Mission. A funded research visit of between one week and six months to a host institution in another COST country. The flagship mobility instrument of any Action. Documented on the Grants page.
Virtual Mobility Grant: The virtual counterpart of an STSM, structured collaboration with a host organisation in another country, conducted online.
YRIG: Young Researcher and Innovator Conference Grant. A grant for researchers under 40 to present at a conference within the Action's scope.
Training School: A funded multi-day school on a topic relevant to the Action, organised by the Action itself.

Documents & outputs

Acknowledgement statement: The standard text you must include in publications and presentations citing NetSec funding. See the Press kit §5.
Dissemination level: A label on a deliverable indicating who can see it: Public, Restricted to the consortium, or Confidential. NetSec's posture is Public by default.
MoU 063/25: The MoU number assigned to NetSec on its approval by the CSO in 2025. Cite alongside CA24154 in official correspondence.
WBP: Work and Budget Plan. The annual plan the Action submits to the COST Association covering objectives, deliverables, and budget allocation across grant types. Applications outside the WBP are rejected by the Grant Awarding Coordinator.

Glossary v1.0 · prepared 21 May 2026 · ported from the members' Wiki to make the content discoverable on the public site. Suggest a missing term via the contact form.