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
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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.

17 June 2026

European Security Studies Prize awarded

The European Security Studies Prize 2026 has gone to Anna Seliverstova (Linnaeus University) and Mattia Sguazzini (University of Genova). Awarded in partnership with the Journal of Strategic Studies, the prize marks outstanding research in security studies. Anna Seliverstova won for "Telegram in Russia's Information Strategy: Evidence from Serbia", and Mattia Sguazzini for "Do Parliaments Dream of Cyber Power? Parliamentary Scrutiny in the Strategic Domain of Cyberspace". The awards were presented at the European Security Studies Conference in Stockholm, co-organised by the European Initiative for Security Studies (EISS), NetSec, and Stockholm University.

See the awarded papers
12 June 2026

ESSC 2026 concludes in Stockholm

The European Security Studies Conference 2026 came to a close on 12 June at Stockholm University, after two days of panels and roundtables jointly hosted by NetSec, the European Initiative for Security Studies (EISS), and Stockholm University. It was the first edition to run under the ESSC name, following the NetSec Early-Career Scholars Summer School earlier that week. The full programme stays online, now joined by a conference film and a photo gallery from the two days.

Revisit the conference →
Now open

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 →
Applications closed

NetSec Training 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 school

See all news → 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

 WG2

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

 WG3

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

 WG4

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.

4 September 2026 Policy Workshop

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.

Format and venue to be confirmed
8–11 September 2026 ITC Conference

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.

Venue to be confirmed · Travel-grant details on grants.html
18 September 2026 MC Plenary

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.

Venue to be announced. Access is restricted to Management Committee representatives, Working Group leads, and invited observers.

View all events, past and upcoming →

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.

Open the Wiki e-COST portal
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, Management Committee 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

Speaking at a NetSec conference, looking for the printable programme, or need a visa letter of invitation? The conference FAQ answers these and shows how to correct your own details on Indico. For anything else, the form below reaches the Action team.