The Networks are one of the ESF instruments.
Since 1985, the European Science Foundation encouraged the development of scientific cooperation in Europe through the Network mechanism.
Networks bring together scientists to explore the potential of developing research at a European level. They are usually short-term, often leading to proposals for research programmes.
Each Network involves researches in different countries meeting periodically in order to coordinate their research. ESF pays for meetings and short visits. Networks last for about three years and have a fixed total budget. The fields are in common with all ESF activities and may include natural and physical sciences, economics, social science and humanities.

The sub-sub-fonds contains documents relating to the activities of the Network Scheme, mainly meetings of the Network Committee concerning the organisation of the Networks and documents relating to each Network: proposals, meetings, workshops, final reports, evaluation and scientific papers.