EC note on Third Country involvement in FP7 
The European Commission has recently developed an information note on the opportunities for Participation and Funding of Third Countries. In the first part, the EC highlights the difference between lower income, so called 'International Cooperation Partner Countries’ and the 'Higher Income Countries' (aka Industrialised Third Countries), which includes New Zealand. The document describes the conditions for funding and provides general administrative information related to organisational registration, and an overview of legal and financial responsibilities when funding is not allocated by the EC. The document aims to speed up proposal development and contract negotiation, by allowing all parties - including the European partners - to understand the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of third countries in FP7 projects.
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The EU-STEP project
EU-STEP is a three-year EU-funded project which aims to improve the visibility of European Higher Education throughout the world and to promote Europe as a centre of excellence in learning, so as to strengthen its dynamic character and foster opportunities of collaboration and exchange between European and third country HEIs.
Take part in a European Study Tour for policy-makers and university leaders:
Study Tour I (for participants from Australia & New Zealand)
7-13 February 2010
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New search facility for research potential scheme
The European Network for Research Potential National Contact Points (NCPs), called ResPotNet, has launched a new partner search facility. This website allows users to search for new opportunities for collaborations and also provides country contacts. ResPotNet also provides access to information on research potential policies, initiatives, open calls, news events, and useful links.
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(As reviewed in European RTD Insight (September 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/)
New ERC publications
The European Research Council (ERC) has published a series of new publications. New publications include: a flyer on the ERC funding schemes, a brochure on the ERC Scientific Council (ScC). There is also a new promotional poster and updated ERC fact sheets.
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(As reviewed in European RTD Insight (September 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/)
Upcoming simplification of the Framework Programme?
In 2010 the EC will release information on the possibilities for simplifying the Framework Programme(s). In preparation for this, an online consultation has been launched, with a deadline of 30 September 2009 for responses.
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(As reviewed in European RTD Insight (September 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/)
FP7 participation report
The EC has published a report entitled ‘FP7 Subscription, Performance, and Implementation during the first two years of operation 2007-2008.’ This serves to outline the success rates for different types of participants and countries. The report includes details of the 33,919 eligible proposals submitted, which requested a total of EUR 56.7 billion of EC funding across the ‘Co-operation’ ‘Capacities’, ‘People’ and ‘Ideas’ programmes as well as Euratom. Of the submitted proposals, 5,477 were retained for funding, giving an average success rate of 16 percent.
The report also features an improvement in the time to contract compared to that of FP6. The average time to contract was 384 days for FP6 – under FP7 this time has been shortened to 317 days.
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(As reviewed in European RTD Insight (September 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/)
EU research topics on sustainable development
The EC has published an in-depth examination of topics and areas related to sustainable development within the FP7 Work Programmes for 2009 and aims to create an awareness of how FP7 contributes to sustainable development.
A recent EC Communication called ‘Mainstreaming sustainable development into EU policies: 2009 Review of the European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development’ highlights that one of the core objectives of FP7 is to contribute to sustainable development. In 2007 and 2008, around 44 percent of the total budget for collaborative and co-operative research was allocated to sustainable development-related projects.
(As reviewed in European RTD Insight (September 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/)
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EC public consultation on post-i2010 strategy
The EC has launched a public consultation to help prepare a new EU information society strategy for the period 2010-2013. Areas covered by the consultation include: ICT for a growth and jobs agenda; ICT for a sustainable ‘low carbon’ economy; improving Europe’s performance in ICT research and innovation creating a hundred per cent connected society and economy through a high-speed and open internet for all; consolidating the online Single Market; promoting access to creativity at all levels; strengthening EU’s role in the international ICT arena; making modern and efficient pubic services available and accessible to all; and using ICT to improve the quality of life of EU citizens. The consultation will close on 9 October 2009.
(As reviewed in European RTD Insight (September 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/)
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FRENZ survey of European researchers
FRENZ has launched an online survey of New Zealand-based European researchers in order to gauge the metrics of existing Europe-New Zealand research collaboration; to achieve a better understanding of both the number and motivations for researcher mobility; and to identify further opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Titled EURAXESS-Links New Zealand, the initiative will mirror, where appropriate, the efforts of the European Commission’s (EC) existing EURAXESS-Links projects (EURAXESS-Links USA and EURAXESS-Links Japan), which work to build and maintain the EC’s links with European researchers abroad. EURAXESS-Links New Zealand will also establish an online tool to provide web-based information and services for researchers who wish to improve their contacts with other European researchers in New Zealand and/or Europe.
If you are a European researcher conducting research in New Zealand, we would ask you to please participate in this survey by clicking on the link below. It should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Your input will help us provide you with a better service.
More information on EURAXESS-Links New Zealand
The EURAXESS-Links New Zealand online survey
New Calls
Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN)
Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2010-ITN
Specific programme: People
Theme(s): PEOPLE
Type: Call for Proposal
Publication date: 2009-09-08
Deadline: 2009-12-22 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
Budget: 243,790,000 €
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Transnational cooperation of regional research-driven clusters
Identifier: FP7-REGIONS-2010-1
Specific programme: Capacities
Theme(s): Regions of Knowledge
Type: Call for Proposal
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Deadline: 2010-01-14 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
Budget: 16,950,000 €
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Energy Call Part 1
Identifier: FP7-ENERGY-2010-1
Specific programme: Cooperation
Theme(s): Energy
Type: Call for Proposal
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Deadline: 2009-10-15 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
Budget: 54,000,000 €
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ICT Call 5
Identifier: FP7-ICT-2009-5
Specific programme: Cooperation
Theme(s): Information and Communication Technologies
Type: Call for Proposal
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Deadline: 2009-10-26 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
Budget: 732,000,000 €
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KBBE 2010: general call for proposals
Identifier: FP7-KBBE-2010-4
Specific programme: Cooperation
Theme(s): Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology
Type: Call for Proposal
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Deadline: 2010-01-14 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
Budget: 190,010,000 €
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ERA-NET Call 2010
Identifier: FP7-ERANET-2010-RTD
Specific programme: Cooperation
Theme(s): Environment (including Climate Change)
Type: Call for Proposal
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Deadline: 2010-01-19 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
Budget: 21,500,000 €
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"ICT for Green Cars" - 2010
Identifier: FP7-2010-ICT-GC
Specific programme: Cooperation
Theme(s): Information and Communication Technologies
Type: Call for Proposal
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Deadline: 2009-11-03 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
Budget: 20,000,000 €
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FP7-INFLUENZA-2010
Identifier: FP7-INFLUENZA-2010
Specific programme: Cooperation
Theme(s): Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology
Type: Call for Proposal
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Deadline: 2009-10-29 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
Budget: 18,000,000 €
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