Brief Introduction to FP7 4th September 2007

							  Malta Council for Science and Technology




Brief Introduction to FP7

        4th September 2007



                Anthea Frendo
           National Contact Point for FP7
    Outline
    • FP7: the Basics
    • FP7 Structure
    • Who can apply
    • How to apply
    • MCST’s role in FP7




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    FP7 at a Glance
    • EU’s main funding tool for supporting research
      and technological development
    • 2007-2013
    • Total budget of over € 50 Billion
    • Supports research in selected priority areas
    • An important element in realising the Lisbon
      Agenda for growth and competitiveness

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    FP7 Structure
                 Cooperation – Collaborative research

                       Ideas – Frontier Research

                     People – Marie Curie Actions

                    Capacities – Research Capacity

                                + research
                      JRC non-nuclear
            Euratom direct actions – JRC nuclear research
     Euratom indirect actions – nuclear fusion and fission research



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    Budget

                                Capacities, 4 097   JRC (EC), 1 751
                People, 4 750
                                                                          € million



        Ideas, 7 510




                                                                      Cooperation,
                                                                        32 413




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    Cooperation – Collaborative research

         Ideas – Frontier Research

        People – Marie Curie Actions

      Capacities – Research Capacity



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    Cooperation
    • Core of FP7
    • Promotes collaborative research in Europe and
      beyond
    • Aims to gain leadership in key scientific and
      technological areas
    • Supports cooperation between universities, industry,
      research centres and public authorities
    • 10 themes


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    Cooperation
    10 Themes:
    • Health
    • Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology
    • Information & communication technologies
    • Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production
      technologies
    • Energy
    • Environment (including climate change)
    • Transport (including aeronautics)
    • Socio-economic sciences and humanities
    • Space
    • Security


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    Cooperation – Collaborative research

         Ideas – Frontier Research

        People – Marie Curie Actions

      Capacities – Research Capacity



9
 Ideas
 • Supports “frontier research”
 • All areas of science and technology – “bottom-
   up” approach
 • Selection based on scientific excellence only
 • Individual research teams (or collaboration)
 • Implemented via the European Resaerch
   Council (ERC)

10
 Ideas - Objectives
     Stimulate excellence in frontier research in
     Europe and attract researchers to Europe:
       • invest in bright and promising researchers and
         new ideas and unusual approaches
       • stimulate competition at the European level
       • offer incentives to individual researchers
       • improve career opportunities and provide conditions for early
         independence of young researchers
       • increase competition, recognition and international visibility for
         excellent individual scientists and scholars in Europe




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     Cooperation – Collaborative research

          Ideas – Frontier Research

         People – Marie Curie Actions

       Capacities – Research Capacity



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 People
 • Provides support for researcher mobility and
   career development
 • For both researchers inside and outside the
   EU
 • Objective – to make Europe more attractive to
   the best researchers
 • Implemented via a set of Actions


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     Cooperation – Collaborative research

          Ideas – Frontier Research

         People – Marie Curie Actions

       Capacities – Research Capacity



14
 Capacities
     Aims to strengthen Europe’s research
     capacities through:
 • Research Infrastructures
 • Research for the benefit of SMEs
 • Regions of Knowledge
 • Research Potential
 • Science in Society
 • Specific Activities for International Cooperation
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 Who can apply?
 • Any company, university, research centre or
   other legal entity established in:
     – a Member State
     – Associated Country
     – Third Country
      may participate provided that the minimum
      conditions have been met




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Participation – how to apply for funding
Proposal Submission
                                                                                Guide for Proposers
                                   SMEs
                                                                                     Guide for Evaluators
       Interest
                                             Multinationals



             Call for                                                            Proposal
                                Networking           Researchers
            Proposals                                                           Preparation

                                                NGOs
      Partner?
     Coordinator?
                                  Academia
                                                         Finance         Internal
                                                                      Enhancements
                                                              Legal     & Services
                                                               IP


                    DEADLINE   Submission

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 Getting Support
 • National Contact Points
     – The network of NCPs is the main structure to
       provide guidance and practical information
     – Personalised support during the project

 • FP7 Enquiry Service
     – A service provided by the Europe Direct Contact
       Centre




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 Role of MCST in FP7
• MCST is the NCP organisation in Malta for
  FP7.
• MCST has appointed an NCP for every
  thematic and horizontal area in FP7.
• List of National Contact Points on MCST
  website – Contacts Section
• Every local NCP is part of a NCP network at
  the European level.

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 Role of the National Contact Point
 • Offers a helpful and FREE service.

 • Disseminates information on FP7.

 • Maintains website and provide e-mail updates.

 • Identifies opportunities for Malta in current calls.

 • Organises info days and training workshops.

 • Helps in finding the right EC funding and
   partner.
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Role of the National Contact Point         cont…



• Advises on joining consortia and proposal
  writing.

• Networks locally and abroad.

• Assists in partner searches.

• Offers one-to-one consultations & full
  confidentiality.

• Assistance of FP7 Documents and procedures
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 Thank you for your attention
     Anthea Frendo
     Malta Council for Science and Technology
     Villa Bighi, Bighi
     Kalkara
     Tel:        (356) 2360 2123      Email: anthea.frendo@gov.mt
     Fax:        (356) 2166 0341      Web: www.mcst.gov.mt


 Other useful Sites:
     FP7 Malta:           http://www.mcst.gov.mt/index_fp7.aspx
     FP7 General:         http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/


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