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7th Framework Programme

 

  • General Information about the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)

What is FP?

'Framework Programmes' (FPs) have been the main financial tools through which the European Union supports research activities covering almost all scientific disciplines. FPs have been implemented since 1984 and cover a period of five years with the last year of one FP and the first year of the following FP overlapping. The current FP is FP7 which, however, runs for seven years. It is fully operational since 1 January 2007 and will expire in 2013. It is designed to build on the achievements of its predecessor towards the creation of the European Research Area, and carry it further towards the development of the knowledge economy and society in Europe.

The maximum overall amount for Community financial contribution to the EC Seventh Framework Programme is 50.521  Mio. EUR for the period 2007 - 2013.

 Additional information sources:

 

What is the FP7 Structure?

The European Community part of FP7 is organised in four Specific Programmes corresponding to four basic components of European research:

  • COOPERATION
    Support is given to the whole range of research activities carried out in trans-national cooperation, from collaborative projects and networks to the coordination of national research programmes. International cooperation between the EU and third countries is an integral part of this action.
    • Collaborative research as core of EU research funding through funding schemes, such as Collaborative projects, Networks of Excellence, Co-ordination/support actions, etc.
    • Coordination between national research programmes: ERA-NET scheme and Actions under Article 185
    • Joint Technology Initiatives will mainly be created on the basis of the work undertaken by the European Technology Platforms
    • European Technology Platforms (ETPs): Industry-led stakeholder fora defining research priorities in a broad range of technological area
  • IDEAS
    This programme is enhancing the dynamism, creativity and excellence of European research at the frontier of knowledge in all scientific and technological fields, including engineering, socio-economic sciences and the humanities. This action is implemented by the European Research Council consisting of an independent Scientific Council and a dedicated implementation structure.
  • PEOPLE
    Quantitative and qualitative strengthening of human resources in research and technology in Europe addressing researchers at all stages of their careers, in the public and private sectors, from initial research training, specifically intended for young people, to life long learning and career development: Initial training of researchers, Life-long training, Industry-academia pathways, International dimension, Specific Actions.
  • CAPACITIES
    The objective of this action is to support research and innovation capacities throughout Europe and ensure their optimal use:
    • Research infrastructures
    • Research for the benefit of SMEs and the research potential of European regions
    • Regions of Knowledge) as well as to stimulate the realisation of the full research potential
    • Research Potential of Convergence Regions
    • Science in Society
    • Support to the coherent development of research policies
    • International Cooperation

In addition, there is a 'Specific Programme' for the Joint Research Centre (non-nuclear activities) and one for Euratom nuclear research and training activities.

 

  • FP7 Funding Schemes

Across all these themes, support to trans-national cooperation will be implemented through:

1. Collaborative projects
Support for research projects carried out by consortia with participants from different countries, aiming at developing new knowledge, new technology, products, demonstration activities or common resources for research. The size, scope and internal organisation of projects can vary from field to field and from topic to topic. Projects can range from small or medium-scale focused research actions to largescale integrating projects for achieving a defined objective. Projects should also target special groups such as SMEs and other smaller actors.

2. Networks of Excellence
Support for a Joint Programme of Activities implemented by a number of research organisations integrating their activities in a given field, carried out by research teams in the framework of longer term cooperation. The implementation of this Joint Programme of Activities will require a formal commitment of the organisations integrating part of their resources and their activities.

3. Coordination and support actions
Support for activities aimed at coordinating or supporting research activities and policies (networking, exchanges, trans-national access to research infrastructures, studies, conferences, etc.). These actions may also be implemented by means other than calls for proposals.

4. Individual projects: Support for “frontier” research
Support for projects carried out by individual national or transnational research teams. This scheme will be used to support investigator-driven "frontier" research projects funded in the framework of the European Research Council.

  • ERC Starting Grant
  • ERC Advanced Grant

5. Support for training and career development of researchers
Support for training and career development of researchers, mainly to be used for the implementation of Marie Curie actions.
Initial training

  • Initial Training Networks - ITN

Industry-academia

  • Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways - IAPP

Life-long training

  • Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development - IEF
  • European Reintegration Grants - ERG
  • Co-funding of Regional, National, and International Programmes - COFUND

International dimension

  • International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development - IOF
  • International Incoming Fellowships - IIF
  • International Reintegration Grants - IRG

Specific actions

  • Excellence Awards
  • Researchers' Night
  • ERA-MORE
  • National Contact Points


6. Research for the benefit of specific groups (in particular SMEs)

Support for research projects where the bulk of the research and technological development is carried out by universities, research centres or other legal entities, for the benefit of specific groups, in particular SMEs or associations of SMEs. Efforts will be made to mobilise additional financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and other financial organisations.

These schemes will be used, either alone or in combination, to fund actions implemented throughout the Framework Programme.

Where different funding schemes can be used, the work programmes may specify the funding scheme to be used for the topic on which proposals are invited.

 

What are the participation rules for organisations/researchers from outside of Europe?

  • May U.S. organisations/researchers participate in FP7?

Participation is open to organisations and legal entities established in third countries: Any company, university, research centre, organisation or individual, legally established in any country, can participate in a collaborative project provided that the minimum conditions laid down in the ‘FP7 Rules for Participation’ have been met, as well as any additional conditions laid down by the FP7 Specific Programmes (Cooperation, Ideas, People, Capacities) or individual FP7 Work Programmes.

Information about FP7 participation and funding conditions for so called third countries (non-EU Member States or FP7 Associated Countries ) such as the U.S. can be found here:

More information about the International Dimension and the Policy Framework of the European Research Area (ERA) can be found here.

The ‘FP7 Rules for Participation’ are accessible here.


Additional information sources:
    * FP7 Work Programmes 2012
    * International dimension of the 2012 Work Programmes
    * All Open FP7 2012 Calls
    * Open FP7 Calls targeting Research Cooperation with the United States of America

Eligible Countries

 

  • Can U.S. organisations/researchers receive funding?

Organisations and researchers from High Income Countries (such as the U.S.) may receive funding in case one of the following conditions is satisfied:

  1. provision is made to that effect in the specific programmes or in the relevant work programme,
  2. the contribution is essential for carrying out the research project and,
  3. such funding is provided for in a bilateral scientific and technological agreement* or any other arrangement between the Community and the country in which the legal entity is established.

* The European Community has concluded bi-lateral S&T agreements with a number of individual countries. These agreements constitute a framework and a privileged forum to identify common interests, priorities, policy dialogue, and the necessary tools for S&T collaboration.

The table of S&T agreements are available under:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm?lg=en&pg=countries
http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/pdf/st_agreement_ec_euratom_5_july_2011.pdf#view=fit&pagemode=none

S&T agreement between the European Community and the United States of America:
http://ec.europa.eu/world/agreements/prepareCreateTreatiesWorkspace/treatiesGeneralData.do?step=0&redirect=true&treatyId=3141
http://ec.europa.eu/world/agreements/prepareCreateTreatiesWorkspace/treatiesGeneralData.do?step=0&redirect=true&treatyId=311

 

  • History of EU-U.S. Cooperation within the Framework Programme


Although the Framework Programmes represent only a small portion of total R&D investment in Europe, they provide a basis for strategic coordination and cooperation and therefore better utilization of resources. Additionally, a more coherent S&T Policy at the EU level will enable the EU to gather critical mass and to develop an effective response not only to the European community but also to the global challenges. The same approach is applicable for EU-U.S. relations. Although many Member States and Associated countries have long histories of scientific and technological cooperation with various U.S. institutions, a strategic orientation of cooperation will further foster excellence in S&T. The U.S. participation in the FP is increasing but still not at the desired level. The number of projects having involved U.S. partners in 5th FP was only around 1% of total 5th FP projects. During FP6, more than 9800 projects have been funded, out of which 428 include partners from the U.S., which is again a share of only 4,4%. The new international dimension of FP7 attempts to lay the groundwork for increasing this participation. 

  

  • Ongoing Cooperations


According to the Ecorda* as of October 2009 there are 211 ongoing cooperations with U.S. participation. The biggest part of the cooperation consists of Marie Curie Actions. It is followed by projects in the following fields respectively: Health, Information and Communication Technologies, Food, Agriculture, and Biotechnology, Nano sciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies, Environment (including Climate Change) and Research Infrastructures.

For details please click here.

*Ecorda is the European Commission's database for the Framework Programme.

 

  • Calls Open specifically for U.S. Participation

Based on the participation rules, organisations from third countries can participate in FP7 open calls for proposals. Nevertheless, in some cases, for example under the thematic areas or under the international cooperation programme, there can be calls specifically targeting third countries. In this section we will publish those calls targeting specifically the U.S.

Information about the international dimension of the 2012 Work Programmes can be found here:
 

Calls for proposals, published in July 2011, specifically targeting U.S. cooperation, are listed here (updated version):

 

  • FP7 Help Desk

The FP7 Help Desk has been formed for providing

  • technical support and guidance for U.S. researchers who are willing to participate in Framework Programme or are already involved in FP7 projects;
  • information to European researchers who are willing to cooperate with U.S. researchers within the Framework Programme;
  • information to other stakeholders who can contribute and benefit from this cooperation.

Please contact us for your questions & comments: info@bilat-usa.eu

BILAT-USA (Grant Agreement no: 244434) and Link2US (Grant Agreement no: 244371) Projects are co-funded by the European Union’s Capacities Programme on International Cooperation under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Cooperation.