The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for research and technological development is the EU's main instrument for funding research in Europe and it will run from 2007-2013. FP7 total budget was EUR 50.5 billion, of which more than EUR 6 billion was allocated to health related research, including clinical research. In the next parliamentary year, the successor of FP7 will be decided. Now is the time to prepare your lobby for inclusion of your area of expertise in FP8.

 

Structure

FP7 is made up of four main blocks of activities forming four specific programmes plus a fifth specific programme dedicated to Euratom:

·         Cooperation,

·         Ideas,

·         People,

·         Capacities,

·         Euratom.

 

The Cooperation Specific Programme is set up to support trans-national cooperation between universities, industries, research centres and public authorities across the EU and beyond. The Cooperation programme is sub-divided into ten distinct themes:

·         Energy

·         Environment

·         Food, agriculture and biotechnology

·         Health

·         Information and Communication technologies

·         Nanoproduction

·         Security

·         Socio-economic sciences and the humanities

·         Space

·         Transport

 

Projects should be presented by at least three legal entities. No two of which may be established in the same Member State. All three entities must be independent of each other. These entities can create a consortium.

 

The aim of the Health Theme is to improve the health of European citizens and boost the competitiveness of health-related industries and businesses, as well as address global health issues. Under this theme priority will be given to the following activities:

·         Biotechnology, generic tools and technologies for human health;

·         Translating research for human health;

·         Optimising the delivery of health care to European citizens.

 

The goal of the Ideas Specific Programme is to enhance excellence and dynamism of European research and to improve the attractiveness of Europe for European and third countries researchers. For the implementation of this programme a European Research Council was established.

 

The People Specific Programme is based on Marie Curie actions (programme set up to encourage international mobility of researchers as well as to conduct vocational training actions). People programme is created to improve education, training, career prospects and trans-national mobility of European researchers as well as their mobility between sectors.

Five actions will be funded under this specific programme:

·         Initial training of researchers:

To make research careers more attractive to young people, researchers’ career prospects in the public and private sectors should be improved. This action is implemented by supporting selected networks of organisations from different countries engaged in research training. Participants must be part of a network of organisations selected by the Commission.

·         Life-long training and career development:

This activity is set up to supplement researchers’ skills or to allow them to acquire new ones. This action is focused on researchers’ international mobility.

·         Industry-academia pathways and partnerships.

The goal is to set up long term cooperation between public research organisations and the private sectors to create pathways in order to improve knowledge sharing and mutual understanding of both sectors. Here the creation of a partnership to allow information sharing through staff exchange will be funded. A partnership could also allow the recruitment of external researchers to transfer knowledge. Finally, organisation of workshops and conferences to facilitate information sharing will be funded.

·         International dimension.

Through this programme the European Union try to increase Europe’s attractiveness for researchers from outside Europe.

·         Specific actions.

To improve the importance of researchers to the general public, actions like awards ceremony or trans-national collaboration among National Contact Points should be set up.

 

The Capacities Specific Programme is focused on research infrastructure, innovative SMEs, research potential in EU regions and outermost regions, on relations between science and society, on horizontal measures to favour international cooperation.

 

The Euratom Specific Programme comprises Community research, technological development, international cooperation, dissemination of technical information and exploitation activities as well as training.

 

This programme is divided into two specific programmes:

·         fusion energy research (to develop a safe and sustainable energy) and nuclear fission and radiation protection (to improve the effectiveness of nuclear energy and its use in other area such as medicine).

·         activities of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) on nuclear energy.

 

Conclusion

EU funding programs present great opportunities for not-for-profits. The European Commission awards money in the form of grants in order to implement projects or activities in relation to and supporting European Union policies. Click here to learn how it works and how your organization can benefit

 

 

Sources: Euractive, European Commission

 

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