eu4journalists

Science & Research

3. 7th Research Framework Programme

Issues

• Is EU’s research funding sufficient to contribute to the building of the European research area?
• Are the measures to increase Europe’s growth and competitiveness working?
• Fund Europe's best research to increase excellence

The EU’s 7th Framework Programme for research and technological development runs from 2007 to 2013. The “FP7”, as it is called, is designed specifically to contribute to EU’s growth and competitiveness – its approach to research is centered on innovation and knowledge for growth.

During the seven-year period the FP7 will funnel over €50 billion to European research and innovation.

The broad objectives of the FP7 have been grouped into four categories: Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities, corresponding to four major objectives of European research policy:

1. Cooperation (€32,4 bn) aims to gain or consolidate leadership in key science and technology areas by supporting cooperation between universities, industry, research centres and public authorities throughout the EU and with the rest of the world. Transnational cooperation is seen as the key element in all research activities.

The programme is sub-divided into ten themes:

• Health
• Food, agriculture, fisheries, biotechnology
• Information and communication technologies
• Nanosciences
• Energy
• Environment (including climate change)
• Transport (including aeronautics)
• Socio-economic sciences and the humanities
• Space
• Security

In addition, fusion energy research, nuclear fission and radiation protection are covered by the Euratom Framework Programme.

2. Ideas (€7,5 bn) aim to strengthen the excellence of the EU's science base by fostering competition between individual research teams at European level. Launched in 2007, the autonomous European Research Council (ERC) supports “frontier research” carried out by research teams, either individually or in partnership, competing at European level, in all scientific and technological fields, including engineering, socio-economic sciences and the humanities.

3. People (€4,7 bn) aims to reinforce career prospects, both transnational and inter-sectoral mobility and training of Europe's researchers. The programme's activities support individual researchers, building on the positive experiences of the existing “Marie Curie” actions programme. The mobility of researchers between university and industry is also encouraged.

4. Capacities (€4,1 bn) aims at developing research capacity, so that the European science community has the best possible research infrastructure at hand. Activities are supported in six broad areas: research infrastructures, research for and by small and medium-size enterprises, regional cooperation, stimulating the research potential in the EU’s “convergence” regions, bringing science and society closer and improving international cooperation.