The project to build COSS was financed by the Ministry of the Interior as the top national project of 2003 for the Centre of Expertise Programme. The other financial contributors to the project were Tekes, the eTampere program, the City of Tampere, and the Council of Tampere Region.

COSS was operated by Hermia Ltd until the end of 2011. From the beginning of 2012 COSS has been a registered Finnish association.

COSS operations are steered by the COSS steering group, which consists of steering group members and invited professionals.