FP7 Funding of Cutting-edge Science and Technologies

It is the declared aim of the European Commission that by the end of the current Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) Europe will be leading the world in a number of new technologies. Particular attention is given to the life sciences and biotechnologies and also to human embryonic stem cell research. In its funding decisions in this field the EU is committed to the highest possible standards of ethics. A strict and transparent environment for use and application of human embryonic stem cells is in place in all of the EU’s past and present funding programmes.

On 18 December 2006, the Council adopted the decisions establishing FP7. This 50-billion-euros programme for research and technological development will cover the period from 2007 through to 2013. Following its adoption the Council also agreed on a regulation laying down the rules for the participation in actions under FP7 and for the dissemination of research results.

Like its predecessors, FP7 bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof and plays a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with the new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness. It is also a key pillar for the recently established European Research Area (ERA).

The broad objectives of FP7 are grouped into the four categories: Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities. For each type of objective, there is a specific programme corresponding to the main areas of EU research policy. All specific programmes work together to promote and encourage the creation of European poles of (scientific) excellence.

The first calls for proposals were published on 22 December 2006 and the second calls on 19 June 2007. More information on the legislative background of FP7 and the guidelines on how to apply for funding can be found on the following pages:

European Commission, Directorate General of Research, Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)
ec.europa.eu/research/fp7

Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS)
cordis.europa.eu/fp7