Framework Programme 7

On 22 December 2006, the EC launched its first calls for proposals for FP7. Although the EC made ‘simplification’ one of the central tenets of FP7 administration, this was hard to see when looking at the 42 different calls relating to 19 workprogrammes!

However, for those with knowledge of FP6, the new Framework Programme does have sufficient overlap in activities to seem vaguely familiar. For those new to the European scene, the EC’s FP7 Factsheet document provides an easy read and useful introduction to all things Framework.

The Calls

Calls were launched under each of the 10 Co-operation themes, providing opportunities for consortia to respond to large and small collaborative research and networking activities. It is here where most of the Framework Programme budget has been allocated and, to date, it is where most NZ effort has been expended.

Calls were launched for the first of the European Research Council activities in the Ideas programme. Although not of direct relevance to NZ, these may be of interest to researchers keen to make their careers in Europe. Whilst there is the possibility of collaborations in this area, it is foreseen that proposals will typically be for single European research groups.

Calls were launched for the Marie Curie fellowship actions of the People programme, although the two fellowships of greatest interest to NZ - the Incoming and Outgoing International Fellowships that will facilitate the mobility of European researchers to NZ or vice versa – were not opened until 28 February 2007.

Calls were also launched in each of the seven Capacities fields.

The workprogrammes for each of these activities are available from the corresponding webpage or from the workprogrammes page. Links to the all of the documentation related to each call are available from the call information page.

FP7 Information

There are numerous websites that aim to provide information about the Framework Programme to different types of interested parties and in various levels of detail. Even the European Commission has two websites: CORDIS and Europa.

The information in the following pages is a mixture of official EC information (credited where appropriate), and FRENZ insight. Thus the aim of these pages is to provide you with both the official, brief overview (and jargon), and also some local perspective considering the specific needs of a NZ audience. It is expected that these pages will be refined over time, taking account of developments in FP7 and NZ participation issues.