EU Research Framework programme (FP7)
The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development are the European Union's main instruments for supporting collaborative research, development and innovations in science, engineering and technology. The Framework Programmes are open to EU public and private entities of all sizes and incorporate provision for the participation of non-EU countries.
Participation is on an internationally collaborative basis and must involve European partners. There are no national quotas as the Programmes are operated on a competitive basis with proposals being evaluated by panels of independent experts against set criteria. Participation is also open to countries outside the EU (“Third Countries” or “Associated Countries”, that have signed up to participate in Framework, as long as the quote for European participants is met. This provides a unique opportunity for international collaboration.
The Framework Programmes offer valuable opportunities for Ireland's small and medium enterprises (SMEs), multinational corporations (MNCs), healthcare professionals and academic researchers to participate in high-quality research collaborations with their European counterparts, with the support of EU funding.
FP7 will last for seven years from 2007 until 2013. The programme has a total budget of over € 50 billion. This money will (for the most part) be spent on grants to research actors all over Europe and beyond, in order to co-finance research, technological development and demonstration projects. Grants are determined on the basis of calls for proposals and a peer review process, which are highly competitive.
For further information on FP7, please click here.
For further information on specific programmes, please contact the relevant National Contact Points please click here.
For further information on SFI’s involvement in European Activity, please use the contacts listed here.
Update: FP7 Calls Launch July 2011
The EU Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2007-2013) is now well past the half-way mark but the good news for researchers is that the budgets for the last two years of FP7 are ramping up. The second last major Call for Proposal publications was launched in July 2011.
Information on the calls may be found here http://www.fp7ireland.com/calls.aspx
