Framework Programme

The European Framework Programme is unique in its scope as the world’s largest programme supporting research, technological development and demonstration. It comprises activities carried out at EU level to finance and promote research.

7th Framework Programme 

FP 7 runs for a period of seven years, from 2007 to 2013. It has an overall budget of approx. EUR 50 billion of which EUR 32 413 million are allocated to the specific programme on 'Cooperation'. The budget will be devoted to supporting cooperation between universities, industry, research centres and public authorities throughout the EU and beyond.

Cooperation Programme

'Cooperation' supports all types of research activities carried out by different research bodies in trans-national cooperation and aims to gain or consolidate leadership in key scientific and technological areas.

The Cooperation programme is subdivided into ten distinct themes. They reflect the most important fields of knowledge and technology where research excellence is particularly important to improve Europe’s ability to address its social, economic, public health, environmental and industrial challenges of the future. Across all these themes, support to transnational cooperation will be implemented through collaborative research.

Collaborative Research

The bulk of EU research funding in FP7 will go to collaborative research, with the objective of establishing excellent research projects and networks able to attract researchers and investments from Europe and the entire world. This is to be achieved through a range of funding schemes: Collaborative projects, Networks of Excellence, Co-ordination/support actions, etc.

Public-Private Partnership

A new element of FP7 are the public-private partnerships at European level in the field of industrial research.
The first so-called Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) were agreed on in late 2007. They support large-scale multinational research activities through a combination of funds from the Framework Programme and private sector investment. This pooling of financial and human resources will foster stronger links between the research community and industry in fields of key importance for industrial research. So far five areas with a clear framework for research investment have been identified:

• fuel cells and hydrogen
• aeronautics
• innovative medicine initiatives
• embedded computing systems 
• nanoelectronics

In practical terms, five organisations (Joint Undertakings) have been set up to manage the implementation of these inititatives. They also organise the open calls for proposals and oversee the selection procedures. Any private company, research organisation and university is eligible to participate. Whereas academic institutions and SMEs receive financial support, companies bear their own costs.

GABO:mi is already gaining practical experience with this new funding Instrument as managing partner in NEWMEDS, a pioneering project of the Innovative Medicine Initiative.

Another initiative for "Public-Private-Partnerships" (PPPs) has been set up within the European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP). This specific funding instrument aims at strengthening innovation that can significantly contribute towards a more green and sustainable economy. The following three PPP are funded:

• Factories of the Future (FoF)
• Energy-efficient Buildings (EeB)
• Green Cars (GC)

Under the auspices of DG Research the Directorates Industrial Technologies and Transport the coordinate the programme. The first call was published at the end of July 2009. Along the lines of the JTI, a contribution of 50% to the total R&D budget from the budget of the 7th Framework Programme is forseen, with matching investment coming from the private sector.