Cooperation

FP7 checklist

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in this section

thematic priorities

  1. Health
  2. Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (KBBE)
  3. Information & Communication Technologies (ICT)
  4. Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies (NMP)
  5. Energy
  6. Environment (including Climate Change)
  7. Transport (including Aeronautics)
  8. Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH)
  9. Space
  10. Security

activities

In this part of the Seventh Framework Programme, support will be provided for cooperation in a number of thematic areas corresponding to major fields of knowledge and technology, where the highest quality research must be supported and strengthened to address European social, economic, environmental and industrial challenges. These themes are broadly defined at relatively high level, such that they can adapt to evolving needs and opportunities that may arise during the lifetime of FP7. For each of them, a series of activities has been identified which indicates the broad lines envisaged for Community support.

Health

Improving the health of European citizens and increasing the competitiveness and boosting the innovative capacity of European health-related industries and businesses, while addressing global health issues including emerging epidemics. Emphasis will be put on translational research (translation of basic discoveries into clinical applications including scientific validation of experimental results), the development and validation of new therapies, methods for health promotion and prevention, including promotion of child health, healthy ageing, diagnostic tools and medical technologies, as well as sustainable and efficient healthcare systems.

Details on the Health thematic area:

Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (KBBE)

Building a European knowledge-based bio-economy (KBBE) by bringing together science, industry and other stakeholders, to exploit new and emerging research opportunities that address social, environmental and economic challenges: the growing demand for safer, healthier, higher quality food and for sustainable use and production of renewable bio-resources; the increasing risk of epizootic and zoonotic diseases and food related disorders; threats to the sustainability and security of agricultural, aquaculture and fisheries production; and the increasing demand for high quality food, taking into account animal welfare and rural and coastal contexts and response to specific dietary needs of consumers.

Details on the Food thematic area:

Information & Communication Technologies (ICT)

Improving the competitiveness of European industry and enabling Europe to master and shape future developments in ICT so that the demands of its society and economy are met. ICT is at the very core of the knowledge-based society. Activities will strengthen Europe's scientific and technology base and ensure its global leadership in ICT, help drive and stimulate product, service and process innovation and creativity through ICT use and ensure that ICT progress is rapidly transformed into benefits for Europe's citizens, businesses, industry and governments. These activities will also help reduce the digital divide and social exclusion.

Details on the ICT thematic area:

Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies (NMP)

Improving the competitiveness of European industry and generate knowledge to ensure its transformation from a resource-intensive to a knowledge-intensive industry, by generating step changes in knowledge and implementing decisive knowledge for new applications at the crossroads between different technologies and disciplines. This will benefit both new, high-tech industries and higher-value, knowledge-based traditional industries, with a special focus on the appropriate dissemination of RTD results to SMEs. These activities are primarily concerned with enabling technologies which impact all industrial sectors and many other Seventh Framework Programme themes.

Details on the NMP thematic area:

Energy

Adapting the current energy system into a more sustainable one, less dependent on imported fuels and based on a diverse mix of energy sources, in particular renewables, energy carriers and non-polluting sources; enhancing energy efficiency, including rationalising use and storage of energy; addressing the pressing challenges of security of supply and climate change, whilst increasing the competitiveness of Europe’s industries.

Details on the Energy thematic area:

Environment (including Climate Change)

Sustainable management of the environment and its resources through the advancement of knowledge on the interaction between the climate, biosphere, ecosystems and human activities, and the development of new technologies, tools and services, in order to address global environmental issues in an integrated way. Emphasis will be placed on prediction of climate, ecological, earth and ocean systems changes, on tools and technologies for monitoring, prevention, mitigation and adaptation of environmental pressures and risks, including risks to health, and on tools and technologies for the sustainability of the natural and man-made environment.

Details on the Environment thematic area:

Transport (including Aeronautics)

Based on technological and operational advances and on the European transport policy, developing integrated, safer, greener and smarter pan-European transport systems for the benefit of all citizens, society and climate policy, respecting the environment and natural resources; and securing and further developing the competitiveness attained by the European industries in the global market.

Details on the Transport thematic area:

Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH)

For specialised support in the SSH aspects of FP7, see the following organisations:

Generating an in-depth, shared understanding of the complex and interrelated socio-economic challenges Europe is confronted with, such as growth, employment and competitiveness, social cohesion, social, cultural and educational challenges in an enlarged EU and sustainability, environmental challenges, demographic change, migration and integration, quality of life and global interdependence, in particular with the view to providing an improved knowledge base for policies in the fields concerned.

Details on the SSH thematic area:

Space

Supporting a European Space Programme focusing on applications such as GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) with benefits for citizens and for the competitiveness of the European space industry. This will contribute to the development of a European space policy, complementing efforts by Member States and by other key players, including the European Space Agency (ESA).

Details on the Space thematic area:

Security

To develop the technologies and knowledge for building capabilities needed to ensure the security of citizens from threats such as terrorism, natural disasters, and crime, while respecting fundamental human rights including privacy; to ensure optimal and concerted use of available technologies to the benefit of civil European security, to stimulate the cooperation of providers and users for civil security solutions, improving the competitiveness of the European security industry and delivering mission-oriented research results to reduce security gaps.

Details on the Security thematic area:

Collaborative Projects (CP)

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 large scale integrating projects for achieving a defined objective. Projects should also target special groups such as SMEs and other smaller actors.

Summary
PurposeDeveloping new knowledge, new technology, products, including scientific coordination. Demonstration activities or common resources for research.
Specific programmes concernedCooperation
Capacities
Minimum conditionsAt least 3 independent legal entities, each of which is established in 3 different MS or AC.
Target audienceResearch institutes, universities, industry, SMEs, (possibly) potential end-users.
Size and resourcesThe number of participants and volume of resources should be compatible with overall objective and manageability of the whole endeavour. A distinction between different forms of collaborative projects, based on budgetary thresholds, may be made on a call-by-call basis. Projects can range from small or medium-scale focused research actions to large-scale integrating projects for achieving a defined objective. Any such limits will be applied as an eligibility criteria and will be specified in the call text.
Duration24–60 months, no formal minimum duration
ActivitiesResearch, demonstration, management of the consortium, other activities such as dissemination, training
Form of fundingBased on eligible costs or other forms of grants as specified in the work programme
Specific characteristicsFlexibility
The description of work (annex 1 to the grant agreement) is normally fixed. If needed, a yearly update will be provided for in the grant agreement.
Enlargement of partnership within the initial budget possible

More information: on any call page (list from ec.europa.eu/fp7calls), download the specific Guide for Applicants (Collaborative Projects — CP).

Networks of Excellence (NoE)

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.

Summary
PurposeDurable integration of the participants’ research activities/capacities with a view to creating a European virtual centre of research in a dedicate field.
Specific programmes concernedCooperation
Capacities
Minimum conditionsAt least 3 independent legal entities, each of which is established in 3 different MS or AC
Target audienceResearch institutes, universities
Size and resourcesOnce the minimum conditions have been satisfied, a range between 3 and 7 participants would seem to be optimal for a NoE.
Duration48–60 months
ActivitiesJoint programme of activities (JPA):
  • Combination and complementary use of resources of the participants such as mutual access to infrastructure, equipment, material, data and knowledge;
  • exchanges of researchers, managers and technicians; redesign of the research portfolios and the research priorities, and reallocation of the resources in a way allowing to increase the number and the quality of the results produced, while optimizing the use of the participants’ capacities.
Management of the consortium
Where appropriate, training, dissemination and communication activities
Form of fundingBased on eligible costs or other forms of grants as specified in the work programme
Specific characteristicsFlexibility
Yearly update of the work plan
Enlargement of partnership (within the initial budget) possible

More information: on any call page (list from ec.europa.eu/fp7calls), download the specific Guide for Applicants (Network of Excellence — NoE).

Coordination and Support Actions (CSA)

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 without calls for proposals.

Coordination and Support Actions: Coordinating (CSACA)

Summary
PurposeNo funding of research, development or demonstration activities
Consistent set of activities focussing on coordination of research activities and policies
Specific programmes concernedCooperation,
People,
Ideas, and
Capacities
Minimum conditionsAt least 3 independent legal entities, each of which is established in 3 different MS or AC
Target audienceResearch organisations; universities; industry, including SMEs; research programme managers and owners (ERA-NET and Research Infrastructure actions)
Size and resourcesThe size, scope and internal organisation of coordination actions and support actions can vary from research theme to research theme and from topic to topic
DurationFew months – 48 months
ActivitiesNetworking, coordination and dissemination activities
Form of fundingBased on eligible costs or other forms of grants as specified in the work programme

More information: on any call page (list from ec.europa.eu/fp7calls), download the specific Guide for Applicants (Coordination and Support Action: Coordinating — CSACA).

Coordination and Support Actions: Supporting (CSASA)

Summary
PurposeNo funding of research, development or demonstration activities
Normally focused on one specific activity and often one specific event
Specific programmes concernedCooperation,
People,
Ideas, and
Capacities
Minimum conditionsAt least one legal entity
Target audienceResearch organisations; universities; industry, including SMEs; research programme managers and owners (ERA-NET and Research Infrastructure actions)
Size and resourcesThe size, scope and internal organisation of coordination actions and support actions can vary from research theme to research theme and from topic to topic
DurationFew months – 48 months
ActivitiesConferences, seminars, workshops, working groups, studies, fact finding, monitoring, strategy development, awards and competitions, working or expert groups, operational support and dissemination, information and communication activities, management of the consortium
Form of fundingBased on eligible costs or other forms of grants as specified in the work programme

More information: on any call page (list from ec.europa.eu/fp7calls), download the specific Guide for Applicants (Coordination and Support Action: Supporting — CSASA).

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