Seventh Framework Program (FP7)
The Framework Programs for Research and Technological Development, also called Framework Programs (FP), are funding programs created by the European Union in order to support and encourage research in the European Research Area (ERA).
The Seventh Framework Program (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment. FP7 is directing more than 54 billion Euros in funding toward a common research program from 2007-2013.
The European Community part of FP7 is organized in four programs corresponding to four basic components of European research plus a specific program on nuclear research and for the Joint Research Center (JRC):
1-Cooperation — Collaborative research (61% of the budget)
2-Ideas — European Research Council, frontier research actions (14%)
3-People — Human Potential, Marie Curie actions (9%)
4-Capacities — Research capacities (8%)
Euratom — Nuclear research and training (5%)
Joint Research Center (3%)
The following ten themes have been identified. They correspond to major fields in the progress of knowledge and technology, where research must be supported and strengthened to address European social, economic, environmental and industrial challenges. The overarching aim is to contribute to sustainable development.
- Health
- Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology
- Information & communication technologies (ICT)
- Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production technologies
- Energy
- Environment (including climate change)
- Transport (including aeronautics)
- Socio-economic sciences and the humanities
- Space
- Security
The EU Member States have earmarked a total of € 3.5 billion for funding the Nanoscience, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies (NMP) theme over the duration of FP7.
CORDIS (Community Research and Development Information Service) is the official information source for publication of all calls for proposals regarding the FP7. CORDIS has a website portal on nanotechnology research on European level.
COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research. It is presently used by the scientific communities of 35 European countries to cooperate in common research projects supported by national funds. COST contributes to reducing the fragmentation in European research investments and opening the European Research Area to cooperation worldwide.
COST anticipates and complements the activities of the Framework programs, works with the scientific communities of emerging countries, increases the mobility of researchers across Europe and fosters the establishment of "Networks of Excellence".
Materials, Physical and Nanosciences (MPNS) is one of the domains covered by COST.