The Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development (FP7) is the European Union’s main instrument for funding research over the period 2007 to 2013. This programme has a total budget of over € 54 billion (including 4 billion for Euratom).
To check the actual FP7 Call for Proposals, go to CORDIS.
The 7h Framework Programme has two main strategic objectives:
- Strengthen the scientific and technological base of European industry;
- Encourage its international competitiveness, while promoting research that supports EU policies.
The budget of FP7 will be devoted to grants for projects including partners from all over Europe and beyond. Researchers from academia, research organization and all kinds of companies are invited to participate in order to work on questions dealing with research, technological development and demonstration. Proposals can be submitted following the publication of respective calls, the highly competitive selection process is done by evaluation procedures.
In order to complement national research programmes, activities funded from FP7 must have a "European added value". One key aspect of the European added value is the required transnationality of most actions: research projects are carried out by consortia which include participants from different European (and other) countries; fellowships in FP7 require mobility over national borders. Indeed, many research challenges are so complex that they can only be addressed at European level by means of cooperation of the best partners from several countries.
FP7 Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the National Contact Points?
Who may apply for FP7 Funding?
From which countries is it possible to apply?
What are ‘Funding Schemes’ and how do they apply to my project?
What is Co-financing?
How do I apply for funding for my project?
How will I know when a Call for Proposals is issued?
How will I know when a Call for Proposals is issued?
How do I submit a proposal?
What happens after I submit a proposal?
May I apply to become an FP7 evaluator or expert?
CORDIS is the official portal for participating in FP7 and following related developments in European science and technology.
What are the National Contact Points?
In all EU Member States, in the countries associated with FP7 and in several other countries, National Contact Points ("NCPs") have been set up to give help and advice to researchers and organizations intending to participate. Contact your NCP by phone, fax or e-mail in your national language, and explain your situation and your ideas.
You will find the address details of your National Contact Point at www.cordis.europa.eu/fp7/get-support_en.html
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Who may apply for FP7 Funding?
Participation in FP7 is open to a wide range of organizations and individuals:
* research groups at universities or research institutes
* companies intending to innovate
* small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises
* associations, SME associations or groupings
* public or governmental administration (local, regional or national)
* individuals
* early-stage researchers (postgraduate students)
* experienced researchers
* institutions running research infrastructures of trans-national interest
* organizations and researchers from third countries
* international organizations
* civil society organizations.
The above list is only indicative, not exhaustive. Different participation rules apply, depending on the research initiative in question.
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From which countries is it possible to apply?
As a general principle, FP7 is open to participation from any country in the world. The procedures for participation and funding possibilities vary for different groups of countries.
Quite naturally, the EU Member States enjoy the broadest rights and access to funding. The same conditions apply to Member States and to countries associated to FP7 (countries paying a share to the overall budget of FP7.
Another important group is the International Cooperation Partner Countries (e.g. Russia and other Eastern European and Central Asian states, developing countries, Mediterranean partner countries, Western Balkans countries).
Cooperation with “third countries” is explicitly encouraged in FP7.
Two key objectives apply here:
* to support European competitiveness in selected fields through strategic partnerships with third countries, and initiatives that encourage the best third-country scientists to work in and with Europe;
* to address specific problems that either have a global character or are commonly faced by third countries, on the basis of mutual interest and mutual benefit.
Finally, with respect to third countries, FP7 also provides for international outgoing and incoming fellowships to foster collaboration with research groups outside Europe.
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What are ‘Funding Schemes’ and how do they apply to my project?
"Funding schemes" are the types of projects, by which FP7 is implemented. They are the following:
Collaborative projects
Collaborative projects are focused research projects with clearly defined scientific and technological objectives and specific expected results (such as developing new knowledge or technology to improve European competitiveness). They are carried out by consortia made up of participants from different countries, and from industry and academia.
Networks of excellence
The Networks of Excellence are designed for research institutions willing to combine and functionally integrate a substantial part of their activities and capacities in a given field, in order to create a European "virtual research centre" in this field. This is achieved through a "Joint Programme of Activities" based on the integrated and complementary use of resources from entire research units, departments, laboratories or large teams. The implementation of this Joint Programme of Activities will require a formal commitment from the organisations integrating part of their resources and their activities.
Coordination and support actions
These are actions that cover not the research itself, but the coordination and networking of projects, programmes and policies.
This includes, for example:
* coordination and networking activities, dissemination and use of knowledge
* studies or expert groups assisting the implementation of the FP
* support for transnational access to major research infrastructures
* actions to stimulate the participation of SMEs, civil society and their networks
* support for cooperation with other European research schemes (e.g. "frontier research")
Individual projects
Projects carried out by individual national or multinational research teams, lead by a “principal investigator”, funded by the European Research Council (ERC).
Support for training and career development of researchers
Training and career development for researchers from across the European Union and its research partners, through a range of support actions named after Marie Curie
Research for the benefit of specific groups – in particular SMEs
Research and technological development projects where the bulk of the research is carried out by actors such as universities, research centres or other legal entities, for the benefit of specific groups, in particular SMEs, or for civil society organizations and their networks.
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What is Co-financing?
The basic principle of funding in FP7 is co-financing. This means that, in general, the Commission does not "purchase" research services by placing contracts and paying a price. Rather, it gives grants to projects, thus contributing a certain percentage to the overall costs.
The maximum reimbursement rates to the costs of a project depend on the funding scheme, the legal status of the participants and the type of activity. The standard reimbursement rate for research and technological development activities is 50%. Certain legal entities can receive up to 75% (non-profit public bodies, SMEs, research organizations, higher education establishments). For demonstration activities, the reimbursement rate may reach 50%.
For other activities (consortium management, networking, training, coordination, dissemination etc.), the reimbursement can be up to 100% of the eligible costs. The up to 100% rate applies also to frontier research actions under the European Research Council.
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How do I apply for funding for my project?
'Work Programmes' and 'Calls for Proposals'
The concrete plans for implementing the Specific Programmes are announced mainly by the European Commission in annual 'Work Programmes'. Calls for Proposals', commonly known just as 'Calls', may be published during the year. Each Call usually covers specific research areas, and you may have to wait until the publication of a Call which covers your exact area of interest.
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How will I know when a Call for Proposals is issued?
Calls are announced in the EU’s Official Journal (which is the official source of EU documents). The annual work programmes and the full texts of the Calls are published on the FP7 section of CORDIS, one of the EU’s web site dedicated to EU-supported research
www.cordis.europa.eu/fp7.
CORDIS is continuously updated with the latest information on Calls for proposals, as well as other information and services related to Community research. CORDIS will help you find information.
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How do I submit a proposal?
You respond to a Call by submitting your proposal. Proposals may be submitted at any time after a Call opens, until the deadline. The Guide for Applicants (also published on CORDIS) will guide you through the process, and point you towards other useful documents.
A web-based electronic online tool called EPSS (Electronic Proposal Submission Service) is the obligatory channel for submission of proposals.
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What happens after I submit a proposal?
After the deadline for the Call, all the proposals submitted are evaluated by a panel of independent evaluators, who are recognised specialists in the relevant fields. The panel will check the proposals against a published set of criteria to see if the quality of research proposed is worthy of funding.
The key criteria used for this evaluation are explained in the Guide for Applicants.
Other helpful Documents can be found here:
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May I apply to become an FP7 evaluator or expert?
Yes. To become an expert evaluator please visit the FP7 experts’ registration site (referred to as the EMM - Experts Management Module) here.
The benefits of being an evaluator are as follows:
· You learn about the process and reviewing projects.
· You meet all Commission staff.
· You meet other evaluators from across Europe.
· You learn what the current thinking and state of the art is.
The participation of female evaluators is especially encouraged!
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© European Commission - CORDIS
The information on the 7th Framework Programme listed here has been taken from the CORDIS the official portal for the FP7. For the latest up to date information please visit their homepage at - www.cordis.europa.eu/fp7.
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