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The Seventh Framework Programme for Research
and Technological Development (FP7) is the latest in a series
of multi-annual programmes that facilitate the bringing together
of industry, academia, policy makers and other stakeholders to
add new dimension to nationally funded research activities. FP7
will run from 2007-2013, with the first calls for proposals launched
on 22nd December 2006.
Overall, FP7 is driven by the objectives set
out following the EU Council meeting in Lisbon in 2000, where
it was agreed that Europe should become “the most competitive
and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable
economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.”
In order to meet this objective, the EC has brought together many
of its research-related activities under the FP7 umbrella.
FP7 is composed of four key
elements (aka Specific Programmes): Co-operation, Ideas, People
and Capacities. Each of these Specific Programmes aims to address
particular elements of the European research landscape, e.g.,
fragmentation in research across Europe (Co-operation);
the need for competition between European research teams (Ideas);
the need for more and better trained researchers (People);
the need to consider social and policy issues both in and trough
research (Capacities).
In principle, the FP7 is open to all areas of
science and technology, including social sciences and humanities
– although not all parts are open to everything. Further,
it is possible for organisations and individuals in countries
outside of Europe (such as New Zealand) to participate in many
of the FP7 activities, although in some cases participation must
be done entirely without funding from the EC.
An EC brochure on FP7 is available
for download: here.
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