Structure: Specific Programmes

FP7 will aim to build on the accomplishments of the previous research framework program­me, and will be implemented through four specific programmes. The 'Cooperation' program­me will support research cooperation in a number of key thematic areas:

  • Health
  • Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology (aiming to build a European "knowledge based bio-economy" to meet demand for safer and healthier food and sustainable use and production of renewable bio-resources)
  • Information and Communication Technologies
  • Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies
  • Energy
  • Environment (including climate change)
  • Transport (including Aeronautics)
  • Socio-economic sciences and Humanities
  • Security
  • Space

'Ideas' will fund investigator-driven research through a newly created European Research Council (http://erc.europa.eu/index_en.cfm). With the creation of a European Research Council (ERC), the European Union is taking a major step towards the realisation of a Euro­pean Research Area by supporting scientific research in Europe. The ERC will be the first pan-European funding agency for frontier research. Early stage as well as fully established investigators from across Europe will be able to compete for ERC grants with scientific excel­lence as the sole criterion for funding. The Scientific Council will direct the ERC’s scientific operations and ensure that its support is in accordance with the highest standards of science and scholarship.

The 'People' programme will support training and researchers' career development:

  • Initial training of researchers - Marie Curie Networks
  • Life-long training and career development - Individual fellowships
  • Industry-academia pathways and partnerships
  • International dimension - outgoing and incoming fellowships, international cooperation scheme, reintegration grants
  • Excellence Awards

'Capacities' will fund the coordination and development of research infrastructure, regional research clusters, international cooperation and closer ties between science and society:

  • Research infrastructures
  • Research for the benefit of SMEs (The aim is to strengthen the ‘innovation capacity’ of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The core of this action focus in SMEs or SME associations in need of outsourcing research to providers of research services (‘RTD perfor­mers’) such as universities, research centres or other, more specialised SMEs)
  • Regions of Knowledge

    • Research Potential

  • Science in Society
  • Support to the coherent development of research policies
  • Specific activities of international cooperation

For more information please visit: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/budget_en.html